SCOTTISH LEARNING CONFERENCE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2015 :: RMTnews 12 T wo shipping branches worked together to develop a regional stage one reps course held at the Dover office recently. Both Dover and Southampton shipping branches had newly elected reps attending the course, five from P&O Dover and two from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The course was tutored by Fred Potter formerly of Cal Mac and it has given the reps the confidence to go out and better serve the membership in the respective workplaces. The group also heard RMT president Peter Pinkney who gave an inspirational talk on the union, the trade union movement as a whole and the constant attacks from the employers and the government. Head of learning in the South East Region Ivor Riddell and Paul Shaw, the newly- appointed Shipping Development Officer, both explained the courses that can be provided through Union Learning. EC and Dover shipping member Lee Davison said: “from the feedback we had had everyone on the course came away with a lot more knowledge and are all looking forward to Stage two in the coming year”. COURSE: from left to Right Nathan Wilkinson, Dover Shipping, Lee Davison, Dover assistant branch secretary, Dale Kember,Dover shipping, Jake Lucas, Dover shipping, Sam Mole, Southampton shipping, Steve Channing, Southampton shipping, Karl Taylor, Dover shipping, Martin Appleyard Dover shipping, tutor Fred Potter and Peter Pinkney R MT union learning rep Andrew Elliott from the union’s Lowlands and Uplands Learning project said that it was great to see so many RMT reps at the Scottish Union Learning Conference in Dundee in November. “Conference organisers and our STUC colleagues noted that we all had our new RMT Learning Scotland Organising through Learning polo shirts on. “The event allowed us time to meet up with ULRs and project worker Dan Henderson from the RMT Highlands and Islands project who were also well represented. Conference discussed the overall funding situation and priorities for Scottish Union Learning as a whole over the coming two years. Guest speakers and the various workshops helped to develop our understanding of learning opportunities that are available, as well as looking at future possibilities with Open Learning. “We discussed issues in a focused manner such as how to ensure recognition of members’ prior learning and how to deal with the introduction of new technology in the workplace,” he said. Since May 2014 RMT ULRs have become more active in organising a number of courses in this first year of the project for the Scottish Lowlands and Uplands. The focus of ULRs next year will be to ascertain the learning needs of members in the various workplaces and assist them in achieving their learning goals, so please speak to your ULR for more information or contact the RMT Learning Coordinator Dennis Fallen d.fallen@rmt.org.uk or text 07920 446112. DOVER REPS SCOTTISH LEARNING CONFERENCE