Laura Haughey is the Safety Rep and ULR at Warburton Bicester, I first met Laura when I was teaching the URTU Health & Safety stage one course at Ruskin College. I noticed how enthusiastic Laura was on the course and how she had a thirst for further knowledge, I was therefore delighted when I joined the URTU learning project as a project worker and discovered that Laura had taken up the role of ULR at Bicester. I have since met with Laura on several different occasions at Bicester and Eastwood where she attends the Eastwood Bicester and Thetford learning committee, you will see from the case study below that Laura is as committed as ever to workplace learning and the role of ULR.    

Learning is a powerful toolArticle by Simon Walker Having the resources and opportunity to educate their membership is one of the most powerful tools that a trade union possesses. Education can transform lives, open up a mass of opportunity and upskill and develop our members. It can turn low moral low productivity and low rewarding workplaces into, good positive places to work. It can reduce bullying in the workplace and reduce disciplinary cases. It does this because the majority of bullying is based on ignorance and most disciplinary cases either stem from lack of training or failure to understand, learning combats both. I can give myself as example to the opportunities that arise from workplace education and trade union support, in 1979 I left school at 16 with 6 CSE’s at average grades (CSE is below GCSE standard) I had numerous jobs from failing an apprenticeship with British Rail to working on a building site and also working in a supermarket. In 1981 I was offered a job at Royal Mail in 1983 I got involved with the union and my journey started there. Because of the effort placed into workplace learning and education by my union I went from delivery driver a job I loved, to lecturer at several colleges including one in the Oxford circle (Ruskin) teaching employment law diploma to qualified teachers. Now I am working with URTU where I can help others have their own journey. But in order to make sure that we make the...

Francisco de Borja Tirador Grasa is a driver for Wincanton, Magor and works on the Wilko Contract.  By undertaking several courses through URTU Learning’s Welsh Government funded project, Francisco is in line for promotion to Transport Manager.