Abstract

The study, undertaken by Dr Eddy Donnelly and Dr. Julia Kiely of the Centre for Organisational Effectiveness, Bournemouth University looks at new forms of union activism believed to have surfaced within the workplace following the introduction of union learning representatives (ULRs) into the south west region, even preceding their statutory endorsement in 2002. Currently there are approximately nine hundred ULRs operating in a number of sectors across the South West who are involved variously in mentoring learners, assessing basic learning needs, resourcing learning events and workshops, organising learning delivery, managing learning projects, liaising with learning partners and in negotiating learning agreements with employers. To date, the evaluation of their work by Bournemouth University has produced a number of reports that have sought to assess the ULR* contribution to the 'lifelong learning' agenda, notably in the form of projects and learning events conducted with sponsorship from the LWfA fund. This report however, is different in that it focuses on the relationship between ULRs and their local union branch and, in particular, on their potential for helping unions organise workplaces.