Meeting the Apprenticeships Challenge
I am currently working on a project for UNISON looking at how our Branches relate to apprentices in the workplace and to establish agreements between them and the employer on that issue. The timing is right for this for several reasons. Firstly because there is a great push to deal with youth unemployment especially since the established workforce is ageing. As a nation we need to see our young people valued and their usefulness harnessed to create the type of society to which we aspire. It is therefore vital that the trade union movement be at the forefront in this as we have a voice for fair play and justice in society and offer an alternative to the “look out for yourself and stuff the rest” attitude.
As young people enter the workplace we want to be certain that they will be given a proper training and not be used as a cheap source of labour to cater for the more menial tasks.
As young people enter the workplace we want to be certain that they will be given a proper training and not be used as a cheap source of labour to cater for the more menial tasks. Of course we all need to start somewhere but there should be a good progression path for them to follow so that they do finish with a valuable training. As people who work alongside the apprentices we can do much to encourage them and ensure that they are not taken advantage of. This is where Union membership for them will help and we must encourage them to join. For young apprentices entering under the scheme this means a commitment of £10 per year whilst they are in apprenticeship.
On the negative side due to the massive restructuring which we find in local government and NHS organisations where there are a lot of our people losing their jobs or being redeployed. It is hard in these circumstances to see the benefit of taking on apprentices. There does not seem to be any capacity or enthusiasm as we lose posts. Any suggestion for taking on an apprentice is often viewed by the workforce with suspicion. They wonder if this is a way of cutting the wage bill.
However if there is an agreement with the trade unions with regard to the transparency for the reason behind taking on and recruiting apprentices these suspicions can be dealt with. There would for example be a progression with regard to pay rates towards current grades for adult employees and a permanent job should there be a vacancy in the establishment. If a post is made redundant the apprentice cannot fill it but may fill a different one. As trade unionists we need to be in on these agreements because it is by being at the table that we can play the game and become involved in its outcome. Blank it and we’ve lost out.
Apprenticeships and training have always been at the heart of trade union business
So who is responsible for apprentices in the workplace? We are all responsible and should do what we can to help and encourage them in their jobs and to become members of UNISON. Apprenticeships and training have always been at the heart of trade union business. The name trade union does tend to give it away. Let’s not lose the passion which we once had for educating our workforce and motivating them out of poverty so that they could with pride look the world in the eye. This is core branch business and it is with the branches of UNISON throughout the region that we should start to become engaged with one of the biggest challenges which will face our members in the coming years. Some places may not be considering taking on apprentices at present because of job cuts but they should act now so that when the time is right we are ready with support for the apprentices and have the assurance that they will become a part of the workforce as a result of our preparation today.
If either your branch or you know of a branch who is up to meeting this challenge please contact
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Craig Young, Project Worker for Apprenticeships, UNISON Eastern Region.
c.young@unison.co.uk
07432105539.
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