Networking In London
Unisons community and voluntary branch recently completed delivery of a pilot organising course for the sector from 24 -26th September in London.
Pádraic Mc Cotter (C+V International Officer) and Seán Brady (C+V Virtual Branch Coordinator) from Belfast were in attendance. The following article is an account by Pádraic and Seán of the experience and the potential benefits for the Community and Voluntary Branch in Ireland...
We arrived in London on the night of the 23rd February in very good spirits due to the sterling treatment we had received whilst travelling. We checked into the Premier Inn Hotel, Euston and immediately set about exploring the city of London, inevitably sampling some ales, bitters and lagers as we went.
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The city itself was a well chosen environment for the course consisting, as it does, of such a plethora of culture, politics and diversity. Having sampled some of London’s delights and just about mastered the Subway we returned for a night cap and sleep before the course began on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday Morning and the good people of UNISON were gracious enough to allow an 11am starting time for those less travelled amongst us.
And so began the ‘Organising for the community and voluntary sector course’ 2009. In attendance were a wide range of people and a cross section of experience and expertise, including people from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England
The course was facilitated throughout by Mary from UNISON education who was complimented by Dylis Williams, co-ordinator of the Virtual branches project and Mike Short.
The ultimate objective was to deliver the skills required for members/stewards/organisers and representatives of UNISON in the community sector to organise effectively in the workplace. We concentrated on the dynamics and structure of the UNION and the diversity of workplaces in the sector, on what skills and knowledge would be required to adequately represent our colleagues and friends, on how to campaign, recruit, negotiate and mediate and above all how to organise strong and confident workers in our specific fields.
The cross section of workforces represented was a credit to the course, enabling people from many different fields to explore common issues affecting us all such as funding, employment law, working hours and workplace standards.
There were workers in attendance representing community carers, youth and community workers, senior citizens, disability support workers, political ex-prisoners, black and minority ethnic groups and more in what was a successful three days for all involved.
The participants very quickly got to know one another and were, one and all, participative in the workshops and activities throughout and equally so in socialising and sharing common trials and tribulations in the evening.
Day two saw an earlier start which some participants, due to extensive socialising and idea sharing, found difficulty with but were nonetheless quickly re-engaged in the course. Training for area and workplace mapping was laid out, policy and procedure explored and innovative methods of recruitment coupled with an outline of the extensive training and education courses available to the UNISON member.
Day three was about preparing to bring the skills we had inherited back into our respective branches and workplaces and each participant left with plenty of food for thought. Draft plans for each workplace and branch were initiated to be followed up with branch participation and disscussion.
As hugs, handshakes and farewells were exchanged and some rushed for planes trains and delays en route home, it was obvious that the pilot ‘organising in the community and voluntary branch’ course would become an essential training course for the community and voluntary steward.
As we all left it was clear that the experience was worthwhile and enjoyable and the networking and idea sharing would continue for some time to come.