Activists training

GFTU courses

To apply for a course please fill in the application form here and send to Sarah.Woolley@bfawu.org  to authorise and send onto the GFTU.

Mark Robinson is the GFTU Education administrator, who can be contacted with queries about the course programme.

Email: markr@gftu.org.uk Tel: 01509 410857

Core courses

GFTU Shop Stewards Stage one

This course is recommended for workplace shop stewards who are new to the role or those that want to refresh their skills and confidence in representing members.

The course will include the following –

•           The skills a shop steward needs

•           The role of a shop steward

•           Your rights as a shop steward      

•           Facilities and time off

•           Interviewing skills

•           Listening skills

•           Handling a member’s grievance

•           Handling a disciplinary case

•           Fairness and equality

GFTU Shop Stewards Stage Two

This course is recommended for workplace shop stewards who understand the basic elements of their role and their rights and who want to further develop their skills and confidence in representing members. The course will include:

•           Understand a range of problems that affect members

•           Collect and present information in representing members

•           Produce a plan for dealing with specific members problems

•           Develop the skills and confidence required to represent members in meetings with management

•           Equality, discrimination and protected characteristics

•           Bargaining, negotiation and consultation in the workplace

•           Review of Statutory Employment Rights

GFTU Health & Safety Stewards Stage 1

This course is aimed at health and safety stewards who want to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence in the area of health and safety. The course will include:

•           The Role and Functions of the Health and Safety Rep

•           Health and Safety Committee Meetings

•           The Safety Representative and Committee Regulations

•           Facilities for Health and Safety Reps

•           Health and Safety Inspections

•           Recognising Workplace Hazards

•           European Legislation and the ‘6 PACK’

•           Prevention and Control Measures

•           Dealing with Specific Health and Safety Issues of Concern 

GFTU Health & Safety Stewards Stage 2

This course is intended for experienced stewards who have completed the Health and Safety Stewards Stage 1 and more experienced stewards who need to refresh their training. The course will cover a number of topics in depth and will include:

•  The background and origins of specific health & safety legislation affecting the workplace

•  The main legal requirements of specific health & safety regulations

•  Be able to understand how you can use health & safety regulations to improve health & safety standards at work

•  Develop the confidence to raise health and safety matters on behalf of union members

•  Understand the key legal requirements relating to risk assessment

•  Understand the risk assessment process

•  Use risk assessment strategies and union organisation to secure improvements in workplace safety

GFTU Negotiating skills

This course is recommended for shop stewards who have experience in their role and who want to further develop their skills and confidence in negotiation for their members. The course will cover a number of topics in depth and will include:

•           Everyday Negotiation Skills                                              

•           What is Negotiating?                                              

•           Negotiating Styles                                           

•           Employment Law and the Workplace                                                         

•           Effective Negotiating Teams                                 

•           Case Analysis – Problem and Preparation             

•           Body Language

•           Negotiation Practice                                                           

•           Case Analysis – Research and Planning                                              

Union Learning Representative Stage 1

This five-day course is designed to equip Union Learning Reps (ULRs) with all the prerequisite skills needed for their tasks. This course will ensure ULRs are sufficiently trained in order to fulfil their role, making them eligible for time-off in order to fulfil their trade union duties. The course will cover a number of topics in depth and will include:

•           The role and functions of ULRs

•           The principals of lifelong learning

•           Interviewing techniques

•           Negotiating learning and training

•           The identification of learning needs

•           Supporting members in their own learning

Developing Adult Learning

The purpose of this course is to empower students to understand the role of the education volunteer and be able to identify people’s issues and get them involved in education and training.  This course is for people who have some experience in helping others access education. The course will cover a number of topics in depth and will include:

•           Listen and respond constructively in group and class discussions

•           Describe current activities that promote formal and informal learning

•           Describe examples of inequalities in learning

•           How to deliver a micro-teach

Ella Baker School of Organising

There are a number of courses available through the school, from organising in the workplace and community, to unconscious bias and having difficult conversations

Training for organisers | Ella Baker School of Organising (ellabakerorganising.org.uk)