Courses in the South West region
Representing courses
Organising courses
Health & safety courses
Equality courses
Bargaining courses
Specialist courses
These are the courses for branch reps and activists currently running in the South West region.
If there are no dates listed for the course you'd like to attend, or if you'd like to be made aware of further dates, please register your interest here.

Bargaining for a green new deal: November 2022
This course is for all Green reps along with those in the branch who are interested in bargaining around environmental issues. The course will help reps navigate UCU Green New Deal bargaining advice and enable you to work on a potential claim to the employer along with looking at a deep organising approach to any campaign strategy.

Building power in the workplace: organising to win, 5 & 6 December 2022, Exeter, Southwest
This two day course is designed to give you the tools and knowledge to build lasting sustainable power in your branch. The course is based on the work of Jane McAlevey academic and campaigner with whom UCU have been working though the organising for power programme. This course adapts Jane's work for a UK and UCU education environment, and will give you the tools you need to transform your branch through the power of organising.

Building power in the workplace: organising to win, 5 & 6 December 2022, Exeter, Southwest
This two day course is designed to give you the tools and knowledge to build lasting sustainable power in your branch. The course is based on the work of Jane McAlevey academic and campaigner with whom UCU have been working though the organising for power programme. This course adapts Jane's work for a UK and UCU education environment, and will give you the tools you need to transform your branch through the power of organising.

Challenging casualisation: stamp out casual contracts, October 2022
This course is for anyone who wants to look at challenging the increasing precarity of contracts across our sector. The course will cover putting in a structured claim along with organising and campaigning around that claim. This course is open to all reps, activists & members who are plugged into their local branch.

Challenging sexual harassment in the workplace: May 2023
This course is aimed at branch reps who may be dealing with individual harassment/sexual harassment cases, negotiating around policies that protect members or wish to challenge harassment, in particular sexual harassment more broadly in the workplace.

Effective negotiating & bargaining skills: January 2023
This course is for those who are negotiating with management or those in the branch who want to learn more about the negotiating process. You will learn about the phases of negotiation, how to represent members effectively, how to develop arguments, define a bargaining strategy and respond to unfair tactics. This course will also touch on some of the practices taught in both strike school and organising for power.

H&S 1 - Induction (health & safety role and functions): December 2022
This classroom based course forms the first part of the health and safety training programme. This course is for new health and safety reps, those who have been in the role sometime but never been trained along with those in the branch who want to further understand the role and legislation that enables health and safety reps to hold institutions to account.

H&S 2 - organising and bargaining for health and safety: February 2023
Participants need to complete the H&S 1: Induction, module before applying to attend this course. This is the follow on course from H&S 1, it is designed for health & safety reps who wish to further their knowledge and skills around inspections, risk, and bargaining around health & safety.

Mental health is a trade union issue: June 2023
This course is designed for reps who want to develop an understanding around why mental health is a trade union issue, and to ensure working practices support equality. This course would benefit both UCU equality reps, health and safety reps, and others in the branch who represent or negotiate on behalf of members. The course will reference the Covid-19 pandemic and it's impact on mental health in the workplace.

Reasonable adjustments: supporting members, February 2023
This course is for reps and activists involved in their local branch who want to learn more about supporting members around reasonable adjustments. This course will give you the knowledge and skills to support individuals through the process, along with looking at how positive changes can be made through organising and campaigning.

Workload rep training 1: introduction to the workload campaign and the role of the workload rep
The UCU workload campaign gives us the tools to tackle increasing workloads and working hours. The failure of employers to protect staff from excessive workloads and stress is damaging our health, our students' education, and our ability to organise to defend ourselves and our sector. This course will give you a generic overview of workload campaign and the role of the workload rep.

Workload rep training 2: workload campaign in action: undertaking workload inspections and investigations
The UCU workload campaign gives us the tools to tackle increasing workloads and working hours. The failure of employers to protect staff from excessive workloads and stress is damaging our health, our students' education, and our ability to organise to defend ourselves and our sector In this course you will work through practical examples and explore ideas around how to use the safety rep functions to identify and reduce excessive workloads.

Rep 1 - UCU reps induction: October 2022
This classroom based course is aimed at new reps/caseworkers and activists who will be undertaking this role in the near future. Existing reps who have not attended training before are also encouraged to attend. The course will cover all aspects of your role as a rep including your rights as a rep, union democracy, recruitment and communication. You should complete this course prior to applying for the Rep 2 course.

Rep 2 - representing UCU members: March 2023
This course is for reps who have completed UCU's Rep 1 course, or our introduction to case work and are now actively engaged in representing individual members. The course also assumes you are actively engaged with your branch and understand UCU's democratic structures both in the branch and nationally,

Representing individual members - an introduction to casework: December 2022
This is a course for reps who are new to representing individual members or those who are considering becoming more involved in the direct representation of individual and groups of members. Those who have been practicing for some time may also find this course to be a useful refresher of best practice.

UCU Learning Reps: role, functions & bargaining: November 2022
This one day course will serve as an introduction to the role and functions of a UCU learning rep. The role is integral to a functioning branch and can have a deep impact on members professional development via quality learning agreements. If you are a ULR or a member of the branch who is interested in finding out more about the role this course is for you.

UCU Learning Reps: role, functions & bargaining: March 2023
This one day course will serve as an introduction to the role and functions of a UCU learning rep. The role is integral to a functioning branch and can have a deep impact on members professional development via quality learning agreements. If you are a ULR or a member of the branch who is interested in finding out more about the role this course is for you.

Your union, your voice: a taster course for activists; January 2023
This short course taught over two half days is for both members and activists who want to learn more about, and perhaps get more involved in UCU.
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