The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is the fifth largest trade union in the UK, with over 300,000 members.
We are organised throughout the civil service and government agencies, making us the UK’s largest civil service trade union.
We also organise widely in the private sector, usually in areas that have been privatised.
We are a democratic organisation, run by our members, for our members. We campaign for fair pay and conditions, decent pensions for all and equality in the workplace and beyond.
PCS Flash Text Service
The PCS Flash text service available free of charge to all PCS members in Scotland
The PCS Scotland office will send out text messages on key issues, campaigns, negotiations and about any industrial action or events in Scotland. All you have to do is fill in the application here PCS Flash Text Service
License to Skill Newsletter
PCS publishes a monthly newsletter for Learning Reps and members, giving up to date information on forthcoming learning events and developments in workplace learning. Read the latest and previous issues here License to Skill
Scottish union learning fund
PCS Scotland has been successful in achieving further funding through the Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF).
A total in excess of £200,000 split over the 3 years of the project has been awarded and will run to 31st March 2011.
The funding will allow PCS in Scotland to:
• Build on the success of previous projects in Scotland by actively advising and encouraging members to uptake learning opportunities, with a particular focus on literacy and numeracy, supporting the members through the process.
• Continue to support, enhance and develop our network of Learning Reps, particularly in branches and workplaces with little or no Learning Rep presence.
• Continue to develop a sustainable infrastructure of support for union learning reps incorporated into branch structures and embed learning into the organising and bargaining work of the union.
• Maintain PCS’ position as one of the lead unions involved in lifelong learning in Scotland.
PCS UNION Learning - LATEST NEWS
Tayside Language Centre Summer Courses
SUMMER SHORT SEMI-INTENSIVE COURSES IN AUGUST 2010
Tayside Language Centre need a minimum of 3 enrolments to run these courses. Please enrol and pay early to secure a place. Enrolments will be closed 1 week before the course start-date. Courses are ILA funded if your account is open and ready at the time of enrolment. Contact us on 01382 227171 or speak to your PCS Learning Reps for more information
Arabic
Starts on Monday 26 July for 3 weeks
Classes from 6 to 8pm on Mon 26, Wed 28, Thu 29/7, Mon 2, Wed 4, Thu 5/8, Mon 9, Wed 11, Thu 12/8, total 18 hours
Fee: £234
Chinese (Mandarin)
Starts on Monday 2 August for 3 weeks
Classes from 6 to 8pm on Mon 2, Wed 4, Thu 5/8, Mon 9, Wed 11, Thu 12/8, Mon 16, Wed 18, Thu 19/8, total 18 hours
Fee: £234
French Beginners
2 weeks
Starts on Monday 9 August until Friday 20 August
Classes from 9 to 12.30 every morning for 2 weeks, total 30 hours
fee: £390
French Intermediate
2 weeks
Starts on Monday 26 July until Friday 6 August
Classes from 9 to 12.30 every morning for 2 weeks, total 30 hours
fee: £390
Russian Intermediate
3 weeks, daytime
Starts on Monday 26 July until Friday 13 August
Classes from 1 to 3pm every afternoon, total 30 hours
Fee: £390
Spanish Beginners
3 weeks, evenings
Monday 2 August to Thursday 19 August
Classes from 7 to 9pm, on Mon, Wed, Thu, total 18 hours
Fee: £234
Spanish Intermediate
3 weeks, daytime
Starts on Monday 26 July to Friday 13 August
Classes from 1 to 3pm every day, total 30 hours
Fee: £390
Turkish
4 weeks
Starts on Tuesday 27 July until Friday 20 August
Classes from 6 to 8pm Tuesdays and Fridays for 4 weeks, total 16 hours
Fee: £208
If interested in any of the above courses, please contact BRIAN STEELE, or any other PCS Learning Rep.
Learning Opportunities Update, Summer 2010
Why not sign up for an evening class or an access course and learning new skills for fun or profit? PCS Learning Reps are pleased to announce a number of new developments in learning which will be taking place in Dundee over the next few months. If you are interested in taking up any of these opportunities, please contact a Learning Rep.
Languages
If you’re interested in learning a language, Tayside Language Centre has a new programme of evening courses beginning 26 April and lasting for 7 weeks. The following languages are offered:
English
Arabic
Bulgarian
Chinese
Dutch
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Polish
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Turkish
The classes are recognised for funding by the ILA and the cost of £84 can be paid from your £200 ILA grant. Weekly classes last 1.5 hours and are offered at 5 levels. On enrolment you will be assessed by an instructor and placed at the appropriate level.
For the more adventurous, the Centre’s GO Languages! programme offers semi-intensive 2 week immersion courses in French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Turkish and Chinese, starting in April. The course may end in a weekend visit to the target country organised by the learners themselves.
Tayside Language Centre aims to be as flexible as possible in providing courses tailored to your needs and will provide a class for as few as 3 learners. Full details can be found on the website http://www.taysidelanguagecentre.co.uk/
Elsewhere, Dundee University Language Centre’s Languages For All Summer programme starts from 4 May. Languages covered are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. Each course run for 1.5 hours per week over 8 weeks. Course fee is £95 and all courses are approved for the ILA £200 funding.
Dundee University Access Summer School
For those who may lack the qualifications needed for university entry, the Access Summer School offers a fast track route to entry to an undergraduate degree course at Dundee University. Running over 6 weeks from 8/6/10 to 20/7/10 you must be available for study throughout this period. Students are introduced to academic life by completing a Personal Academic Skills course made up of 3 taught subject modules. Weekly essay, practical, online and group tests and assignments, plus a final exam prepare the student for the discipline of university study.
The Summer School is free and you may be eligible for a modest bursary. Closing date for applications is 30/4/10. More info on the website http://www.dundee.ac.uk/admissions/participation/accesssummerschool/
HMRC Apprenticeship Scheme
In keeping with the government’s pledge to increase the number of apprenticeships within the public sector, HMRC are now able to offer apprenticeship training to any employee aged 16 or over who doesn’t already have a degree qualification. The Council of Civil Service Unions has negotiated a framework agreement which will ensure that quality of training, qualifications and support and the protection of pay, terms and conditions of apprentices will be assured.
Apprenticeships will combine on and off the job training, working with a mentor towards a vocational qualification such as NVQ in the workplace, and with an off-site learning provider to obtain a technical qulaification such as a Btec. Courses will be offered at 2 levels – the Apprenticeship course, expected to last 1 year, will lead to a Level 2 qualification; while the Advanced Apprenticeship will take 15 months and result in a Level 3 award.
HMRC currently offer seven apprenticeship frameworks:
Customer Contact - Levels 2 and 3
Customer Service - Levels 2 and 3
Business Administration - Levels 2 and 3
Team Leading - Level 2 only
I.T. - Level 2 only
Management - Level 3 only
Advice and Guidance - Level 3 only
IT Learning
Around 30 members of staff in Sidlaw House are currently studying with CraigOwl Communities for the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) qualification. This qualification is recognised across Europe and is the standard qualification required by many employers nowadays. No previous qualifications or experience are needed for entry to the course, which is taught on an “open study” basis. Students can work from home, from CraigOwl’s Learning Centre or from any office or community access point (such as libraries or community schools) where a computer with Ms Office 2007 is available.
The ECDL can be funded by the ILA £200 award and the course can be taken up at any time.
PCS Learning Reps are currently awaiting the outcome of an application for funds to enable us to stage learning events in the workplace. This would enable us to offer training on-site during working hours which would be accessible to you through flexi-time arrangements. The first courses to be planned for are Microsoft Excel and Spanish. More details will be available in time.
Short Story Competition
You may have seen posters around the building announcing the 6th annual PCSShort Story Competition. This is open to all trade union members and comes with a first prize of £100 cash and runners up prizes of £50 and £25! As if this wasn’t incentive enough for impecunious authors scratching out War and Peace by candlelight in a garret, winners will also see their work published in the highly respected WORDS magazine and online.
Short stories should be no longer than 2000 words, typed double-spaced on A4 paper. Entries must be accompanied by an entry form and may be submitted by email provided the format above is used. Closing date for entries is 30 August 2010. Submit your entry through a Learning Rep for a chance to win additional prizes exclusive to Sidlaw House!
Online Training On Demand
The excellent Alison.com online resource continues to develop the range of free web based training courses available to anyone who cares to register with the website. Latest courses available include the Microsoft Digital Literacy Course in 5 modules as well as many other IT courses; a wide range of business skills courses including Project Management, Human Resources and Operations Management; and health, practical and lifestyle courses such as Financial Literacy, Touch Typing and Health & Safety Management. All that you need to take advantage of these FREE learning opportunities is a computer connected to the Internet.
For more information on any of the courses mentioned, or to apply for your ILA Learning Account, please contact any of the PCS Learning Reps.
Quick Reads
Quick Reads are bite-sized books by bestselling writers and celebrities. They are ideal for regular readers wanting a short, fast read, and for those who have lost the reading habit or find reading tough. They are short, sharp shots of entertainment.
On World Book Day, 4 March 2010, Quickreads celebrated its fifth anniversary and published. 10 new books for 2010, including short works by writers Andy McNab, Cathy Kelly, Peter James and Alison Weir and celebs including Rolf Harris and financial guru Alvin Hall. The books can be bought from bookshops, supermarkets and libraries, priced at £1.99.
Book Swop Library
If you enjoy reading, our bookswop library in the downstairs breakout area at Sidlaw House usually has something for all tastes. We are always on the lookout for new titles to be added and welcome all donations. If you have any books you’d like to share, please leave them tidily on the shelf or in a bag or box under the shelf, or give them to a learning rep to sort out.