From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I am very pleased to confirm the RMT Education Centre will be opening the additional building development to the existing Education Centre on the 23rd November 2012. This additional facility effectively doubles our education and training support to our Unions members. To reflect this expanded facility I am attaching the 2013 education programmes for both of the teaching rooms now available at the RMT Education Centre in Doncaster. The programme again is a progression from 2012 and the Council of Executives remain committed to providing the best education and training support for our members and officials.

The programme continues to offer the full core skills programme:
1. Workplace Representatives Course at Level 1 & 2 – Attendance at a Level 1 course is a prerequisite to fully appreciate and gain the maximum from the other courses set out. In addition all those Workplace Representatives who attended a Level 1 course in 2012 or before should look to attend a Level 2 course in 2013.

2. Branch Officials Course at Level 1 & 2 – All existing, and aspiring, Branch Officials should look to attend a Level 1 course in 2013 where the key duties and responsibilities of the position are mapped out. If you have attended a Level 1 course then Level 2 will further support and assist you as a Branch Official, this course also now contains the Membership IT elements of the previous Branch Secretary’s IT course and links it to building a stronger and more effective branch.

In addition several new courses have been developed for which attendance at a Workplace

Representatives Level 1 course is a vital precursor:

1. Representation of RMT Members – Perhaps the most important role any of our Reps/Officials perform is to represent their brothers and sisters when a grievance is raised or they are facing discipline. This course provides you with all the key skills and confidence to do both.

2. Communication for RMT – Getting our message across is vital if we are to build strong RMT workplaces and Branches, this new course will provide you with the ability to do this in a variety of ways as well as understanding how the Union nationally works to combat the worst excesses of some of the national media and get our message across effectively.

3. Organising for a Winning RMT – Organising is the way to ensure we have a strong RMT now and in the future, this course has been developed with the assistance of the RMT’s own Organising Unit and sets out the strategies and activities that can build strong RMT Workplaces.

4. Winning in the Global Workplace – Increasingly the problems you face in the workplace have a Global dimension and so the solutions may also require a global perspective. This course uncovers the globalisation of work and how Trade Unions can fight back globally.

5. Introduction to Pensions – Increasingly under threat, we need to ensure we have officials in every workplace that can advise members on where to get help and to offer safe and reliable information about something that they will be relying on for many years after they leave work, this course will provide those skills.

6. Union Learning Representatives – If you want to make a difference in the workplace and progress the RMT learning agenda for members then you should look to attend one of these courses.

7. Area Council Representatives Course – a course specifically designed to assist and support those RMT Members fulfilling this key role for their members. As yet the weeks allotted are not ascribed to any particular company, if your Area Council believes such a course would assist you to carry out your role then contact the RMT Education officer at a [dot] gilchrist [at] rmt.org.uk

8. Maritime Heath & Safety – Courses specifically designed to equip our members in the maritime industries with the skills and knowledge to best protect their members.

9. Campaigning for the RMT – a new course to enable more RMT members and activists to understand and develop campaigns to advance the RMT agenda in the workplace, a course that reflects the Unions best campaigning traditions.

10. Equality at Work – a course that helps to explain the equality agenda and how this can make all workplaces a better place for all RMT members.

11. Advisory Committee Courses – the programme also includes weekend courses at the Education centre for our National Committees for Women, Black & Ethnic minority and LGBT members. In addition the Union will organise a full programme of courses for our Young Members through 2013.

12. RMT Political Course – A week looking at and discussing the political world that we live in, to attend this course you should contact the RMT Political Officer at j [dot] croy [at] rmt.org.uk

In addition to the above national programme the Council of Executives would wish to encourage Regions to organise the Workplace Representatives 3 day Introductory course to provide the first steps on our members Trade Union Education journey. Of course if Regions wish to provide additional course programmes in the regions these should be forwarded to the C of E for their consideration if funding is required from Head Office, and of course if any region requires any assistance in their education work then please contact the National Education Officer in the first instance.

All of the nationally agreed courses can, if demand is there, be provided at a Regional location. Specifically the Education department is looking to provide Regions with a 2 Day ‘Disability Awareness course in 2013, requests for this course should be made to the RMT Education Officer at a [dot] gilchrist [at] rmt.org.uk The RMT will also provide further courses on IT& Office Skills at Northern College in 2013 with dates to be provided later.

All and any members of the RMT wishing to attend an RMT Education course should fill in the attached application form and ensure it is signed by their Branch Secretary. The new centre has the capacity for two courses per week, with all your accommodation (all en suite) and reasonable travel expenses met by your Union. Meals, (Breakfast 08.30hrs -0845hrs with lunch at 13.00hrs and evening meal at 18.30hrs-18.45hrs) are provided free. If you are unable to secure paid release the Union will assist with loss of wages/salary for those days it is lost.

Finally if there are education or training requirements our members or officials need that are not provided currently then please raise this through your Regional Council in the first instance. I am also attaching the Regional Education Programme that will eventually reflect those courses Regions wish to have delivered at regional locations.

If you require any further information about any aspect of the RMT Education Programme for 2013 then please contact your Branch Secretary or the Unions Education officer at a [dot] gilchrist [at] rmt.org.uk

You can also contact us here.

Attached below are application forms and further information about the training courses