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FAQs

What Are The Courses Like?
Unison courses are run in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.  Everybody’s views and experiences are valued and listened to.  Most of the time you will be working with other people in small groups.  You won’t be lectured or ‘put on the spot’.

What If I Have Responsibilities At Home?
Unison branches provide a care allowance for children and dependants if they need to be looked after while you are attending courses if you have incurred an additional cost.  Details are available from your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary.

What Facilities are Available For Disabled Members?
We seek to ensure that the venues we use have adequate facilities for disabled members.  Because of the wide varieties of facilitation required it is important that you let us know as soon as possible what you want and that you are specific about requirements. We do need at least 28 days notice of facilities required.

Is Learning Support Available?
We usually can adapt course materials to meet needs.  Because of the wide varieties of facilitation required it is important that you let us know as soon as possible what you want and that you are specific about requirements. We do need at least 28 days notice of facilities required.

Can I Get Paid Time Off?
You have a legal right to reasonable paid time off (see below) for training in your union industrial relations duties.  You should give at least a few weeks notice and - if asked to - provide management with information about the content of the course.  So, at the same time as sending off your application form to UNISON, ask management for time off using your local procedure.  Don’t delay by waiting until your course place is confirmed.  If you get resistance, ask for UNISON help through your branch.

Representatives of the union – stewards, health and safety representatives, Unison learning reps and branch officials - are covered by legislation which allows time off with pay to attend education and training events.  For stewards and branch officials this is covered by the Employment Rights Act 1996 section 61-62, for health and safety representatives by the Safety Representation and Safety Committee Regulations 1977, Unison Learning reps by the Employment Act 2002.  A revised ACAS Code of Practice provides additional guidance on how the laws should be interpreted.  If you have problems in getting time off then contact your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary.

I'm Part Time, Can I still Get Paid Time Off?
If you attend a course for which paid time off is available and those course hours exceed those you normally work, you are entitled to receive pay or time off in lieu for those hours.  Please ask your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary for help if you experience problems in exercising these rights.  Also, don’t forget that if you incur additional childcare or dependent care costs, Unison branches provide an allowance to ensure you are not out of pocket.

Will My Expenses Be Covered?
Payment of travel and subsistence costs should be claimed from your branch.  You should check with your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary to find out how to make a claim.

What are the Course Times?
Courses usually start at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm.  Occasionally, if a course is only run in one or two places in the Region e.g. London, it will start at 10.00am. Course details will be provided to you when you are offered a place on a course.  For the benefit of everyone you should try to attend all course sessions on time.

Where Do The Courses Run?
We try to run courses where we feel everyone has the opportunity to attend.  Here’s a list of towns with the venues we use:-
• Basildon - Basildon & Thurrock College, Nethermayne Campus, SS16 5NN
• Bury St Edmunds – Unison Office, Lower Baxter Street, IP33 1ET
• Cambridge – Professional Development Centre, Foster Road, Trumpington CB2 9NL
• Chelmsford – Chapter House, Church Lane (by the Cathedral), CM1 1NX
• Colchester – Colchester Institute, Sheepen Road, CO3 3LL
• Hertford – Unison Meeting Room, County Hall, Leahoe, SG13 8DZ
• Ipswich – Coop Education Centre, 11 Fore Street, Ipswich, IP4 1JW
• London – NUT, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, WC1H 9JB
• Luton – Barnfield College, New Bedford Road, LU2 7BF
• Norwich – City College, 9 The Norwich Business Park, Whiting Road, Norwich, NR4 6DJ

How To Apply
Once you have selected a course you wish to attend, you need to fill out the application form which is at the back of this programme.  If you wish to attend more than one course you can photocopy the form and use it as many times as necessary.  You must seek the approval of your branch before you can attend.  Application forms must be given to the Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary to sign.Your completed and signed application form(s) should then be sent to

Unison Eastern Region
Activist Education Unit
Church Lane House
Church Lane
Chelmsford
CM1 1NH

Or Faxed to 01245 492863, they can also be scanned & emailed to s.carrington@unison.co.uk

When Will I Know If I Have A Place On The Course?
Each course in this programme has a closing date for applications which is 4 weeks before the start date.  After the course closing date you will be contacted and advised whether or not you have a place.  We will also tell you about the details of the course: venue, start times and any other relevant information. If you have not heard from us by 2 weeks before the course starts, please contact us on 01245 608905 / s.carrington@unison.co.uk

* Some of the courses in this programme will be run jointly with the Greater London Region, so you may find that the joining instructions will come from their office.   Please note that they generally don’t send the joining instructions until 2 weeks before the start date, so please make sure you have your time off arranged well in advance. The courses where joining instructions will be issued by the Greater London region are marked with an * in the programme.

Do I Have To Pay?
There is no cost to you.  Unless otherwise stated, the current (2009 rates) cost to the branch for a member attending a course is £15 per day for courses run in Cambridge, London and Luton (this fee includes lunch) and £10 per day for courses run in all other venues (no lunch provided because there are places nearby to buy lunch – you can claim subsistence from your branch for this).

What Do I Do If I Can't Go To The Course?
If for any reason you find that you cannot attend the course for which you have applied it is essential that you contact the Activist Education Unit as soon as possible by calling 01245 608905 or emailing s.carrington@unison.co.uk (both available 24 hours a day).  You will also need to contact your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary, who may be able to find a substitute delegate.If you fail to attend the course and you fail to notify the Activist Education Unit prior to the start of the course, the relevant course fee will be charged to the branch plus an extra charge of £60 for failure to attend without notice.

What If My Branch Refuses To Support My Application?
If your branch has refused your application to attend a training course the first thing you need to do is to find out the reason it has been refused.  You should contact your Branch Education Co-ordinator if you have one, if not contact your Branch Secretary to discuss the refusal.  If you are still dissatisfied, you should then contact the Regional Education Officer to discuss your application.

 

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