you have to critically assess:

br Union involvement in workplace learning 1

Union involvement in workplace learning Union involvement in workplace learning 2

Abstract

The adoption of learning by the union has been a turning point , not only coinciding with the resurgence of union , but also opening up an unprecedented service . The union 's involvement in learning has not only succeeded in roping in the government and employer , through their commitments and obligations , but also brought learning benefits to a vast number of people . By developing its own network of curriculum teaching and learning methods , using

an exclusive setup , the union has even emphasized on the need to develop skills and , to move away from the low skill , low cost environment . On the other hand non-union companies had their own methods of management , each having its own implications .Union involvement in workplace learning 3

Introduction

In the past few years , the British trade unions have adopted training and learning as an important element of their agenda . This learning agenda is perhaps the fastest growing philosophy of trade union activity , although it is one of the newest . The involvement of unions in learning is a distinct role from its historic activity of organising and agitating . The role of unions in establishing `learning agreements ' with employers , creating union learning representative (ULR ) and several union learning programs are seen as success stories associated with unions , which even seemed to signal the renewal of unions . The commitment of the labour government , to develop Britain as a high-skill and knowledge-oriented economy has supported union learning through union learning fund (ULF ) and statutory backing for ULRs . Unions have also been provided a stakeholder role in the vocational education and training system (VET . Today , most of the important institutional bodies include a formal representation of unions . Unions are represented in the learning skills council (LSC ) and the sector skills council (SSC . New sector skills agreements and regional skills agreements have been formed in sectors where unions are present . The Trade Union Congress (TUC ) has a formal representation on the National Skills Alliance to advice government on the implementation and progress of skills strategy . This approach is seen as the governments ' `social partnership ' strategy . The representation and roles of trade unions today , perhaps reflect the exclusion and marginalisation policies of the earlier conservative governments .Union involvement in workplace learning 4

The LSCs and SSCs are primarily conceived as employer-led groups with trade unions offered only one seat , along with the other voluntary organizations . Unions thus have very limited scope to influence the operation of these bodies . The TUC has made it clear that there is a lack of robust social partnership approach to skills and that it wants a better voice in these bodies . In continental Europe , unions have equal representation with employers on the main VET body , and decision-making opportunities are offered to all partners . However , many people feel that increased union representation in these bodies cannot make much difference as the state has the dominant role . However the effectiveness of using learning...