New learning centre opens today

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes is today (Monday) joining Royal Mail workers and union reps in opening a new learning centre at Royal Mail's Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC).

With a dedicated learning centre equipped with broadband and laptops staff employed at this site will have the opportunity to get involved in a range of CWU and West Thames College courses which previously were limited due to space constraints. The centre will provide a place to find information about courses and learning opportunities and can be used by workers as a drop-in centre for specific courses or to do their own studies.

CWU lead Union Learning Rep (ULR) Parminder Kaur headed up this project using a grant from the Union Learning Fund for equipment and persuading management on the merits of a new on-site learning centre. "Since I started working with the CWU, I have realised how effective unions can be," she said. "They are organisations that really help people and I am grateful to the management team at HWDC who are supporting us as well.

"When somebody talks to me about their learning needs, I try my hardest to help them and provide advice or signpost them to colleges if we can't provide the course ourselves. I am confident in the future we will bring even better and more varied courses that everyone will benefit from."

Billy Hayes praised the hard work and dedication of Parminder, saying: "The CWU has over 1,000 ULRs like Parminder who are organising learning opportunities on a daily basis in workplaces around the country and they really are a credit to the union."

Commenting on the new learning centre he continued: "Lifelong learning through trade unions has been a great example of the progressive work we do. It is a genuine "win-win" for employers and union members alike. Most of all, it demonstrates that where support and resources are provided for education and learning opportunities these can play a crucial role in maintaining a motivated, loyal and highly skilled workforce."

Concluding his keynote speech Billy said: "In providing people the opportunity to learn new skills we help them find the confidence to move forward to who knows where - and in turn we all offer society a confident, skilled and imaginative group of people who add to our collective potential and abilities."

Joe Showler, CWU South East Regional learning project worker, also paid tribute to the "excellent work" of Parminder saying: "It is a large, multi-cultural workforce and Parminder has created good relations through the courses in English, maths and computer skills and by putting on social events, such as trips to Weymouth. The management has been very supportive and understands that the company as well as the staff stands to benefit. Providing learning opportunities is seen as a core union service by the CWU."

For more on courses offered by the CWU at HWDC and other sites please visit CWU Education.

Source: CWU