Scottish Union Learning Conference 2009

The real joy of the annual Learning Conference is in meeting up again with friends and colleagues from other branches, other unions. Blethering. Meeting and chatting with the exhibitors, often putting faces to the voices we’ve spoken to previously over the phone. Normally, Conference is a carefree occasion to mark and celebrate our achievements... but these are not normal times.

This year’s Conference, held in Dundee’s Apex Hotel on 19 November, took as its theme The Economic Environment. Opening proceedings, Scottish Union Learning Chair Anne Brown lost no time in introducing our guest speakers, Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Schools and Skills; and John Park MSP, Co-Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Skills in the Scottish Parliament, Labour spokesperson on skills and member of the Board of Directors of Scotland’s Futures Forum.

Keith Brown talked about what the Government is doing to address the current economic situation, acknowledging the contribution made by union learning and ULRs. John Park then took the stand to highlight the important role of the trade union movement in encouraging employers to commit to continuing training.

STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith was next to the podium. All speakers acknowledged the tight public spending period ahead and the importance of ULRs in getting the message out about the work of the unions. Grahame added to this, highlighting the challenge we have over the next year to make the best use of the funding we have – especially the money available through the ESF Scottish Fund for Union Learning.

Conference then divided into groups for the workshop sessions, very ably directed by facilitators from across the trade union movement and skills sector, which this year dealt with:

• The Green Economy
• Workers in Vulnerable Employment
• ESF: Scottish Fund for Union Learning
• Engaging With Skills Sector Councils

Each delegate attended two workshops and a main session entitled Scotland’s Economic Future: The Importance of Skills and Learning, in which Stephen Boyd, Assistant Secretary of the STUC and Gordon McGuinness, Head of Industry at Skills Development Scotland, examined the causes and depth of the current recession and how this has impacted on our agenda for learning and skills in the workplace, the Government’s strategy for recovery and the STUC’s views and policies in this respect.

The afternoon round of workshop sessions continued after a buffet lunch (Feedback from delegates that the traditional "DUNDEE PEHS" were well received was evidenced by the empty plates!), before delegates reconvened to the main conference room for the closing session.

Jim Lillis of Unite, 2009 Recipient of the STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning, gave an amusing account of his achievements as a ULR in First Bus Group. Jim undertook to learn Polish to help build an inclusive workforce and to support new colleagues from Eastern Europe in their efforts to learn English and communicate with Glaswegian bus passengers. Jim’s answer was to teach them Weegie – introducing them to the magical poetry of “Geez an awday intae toon”, and the perennial “C’moan,git aff!”

Gordon McGuiness then returned to the platform for the closing address, followed by a summary of the day from SUL Lifelong Learning Manager Sylvia O'Grady (to whom thanks are due for the notes which made up much of this report!)

Finally, no conference is worthy of the name if it ain’t brought to a close with a prize draw conducted by the STUC’s redoubtable Jennifer Payne!

All in all, this year’s Conference was a resounding success in that it focused our attention on the challenges to come. The inevitable cuts in public spending, rising unemployment and shrinking skills sectors mean that ULRs will have to adapt to doing more with less. Emphasis may shift from up-skilling to re-skilling as jobs disappear and workers look to new career paths. The Skills for Life agenda becomes increasingly important as the manufacturing sector contracts and the knowledge based industries come to dominate the jobs market. With economists estimating 5 years until a return to normality, ULRs look to have a job on their hands. Yet we’ll be here again next year, no doubt, meeting our friends, blethering, celebrating our achievements.

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