Trade unionists join with employers and Government to tackle NW skills crisis

North West trade unionists and employers will join a Government representative to launch six new publications for union learning reps (ULRs) to help tackle the regionís skills crisis. The new Skills for Life booklets are published by unionlearn, the TUCís learning and skills organisation, and will be launched, at a high-profile event in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Liz Smith, unionlearn director, will launch the publications. Other prominent figures speaking at the event include: John Hannett, USDAW General Secretary and a Skills for Life Advocate; Neil Robertson, Head of Skills for Life Strategy Unit, DfES; Neil Scales, Chief Executive, Merseytravel; and Dave Eva, North West Regional Manager unionlearn. The event will provide a forum to discuss the progress made in the North West by union learning reps and the challenges ahead.

Dave Eva, North West Regional Manager unionlearn said:

ìThe North West is facing a skills crisis and union learning reps are playing their part in tackling this in workplaces throughout the region such as Merseytravel, Royal Mail, Airbags International, and Blackpool Council. These booklets will help union learning reps to advise, support and help people to improve their skills and improve their lives. It is a travesty that the average person is ten pounds a week out of pocket, all because they donít have the literacy and numeracy skills to help pick out the best deal or work out simple maths. Union learning reps all over the North West will be better equipped to make sure that some of the most vulnerable people are not exploited.î

The series of booklets focuses on help in implementing the Skills for Life programme, an essential part of raising skills levels in the workforce, which is currently facing a crisis. The Skills for Life programme was established in order to help the over 5 million people without basic English skills and almost 15 million who have problems with maths.

The series includes: Reading and Writing, ESOL, Numeracy, Speaking and Listening, and Dyslexia. The booklets will provide ULRs and unions with more in depth knowledge on how better skills impact positively on membersí lives at work and at home. The books give specific examples of where these skills are needed.