To
find the answer to a particular question, just click anywhere on the
line where the question is written, and you will be taken to it. To
return to the list of questions at the top of the page, just click on
the Return to top of page link.
How
much does it cost to do a course?
It
should cost you virtually nothing. The fees are paid by the government,
and your employer is legally obliged to pay your wages for the days
you attend the course (see question 2 below). Your travel and meal expenses
are normally paid by your union, although you will need to check with
your Branch Secretary or full-time official exactly what your union's
policy about this is. The only expense you may have is to provide some
stationery.
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What
do I do if my employer refuses to give me paid time off to come on a
course?
Provided that you are a rep and belong to a union recognised by your
employer for collective bargaining, you have legal rights to paid time
off to attend TUC and union courses under:-
-
The Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1988
-
The ACAS Code of Practice on Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities
-
The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
(To see details of your rights under these various provisions, click
here.) A number of employment
tribunal cases have established that reps have legal rights to attend
Stage 1, Stage 2 and Certificate courses, provided that they fulfil
certain criteria and requirements. However, the timing of your release
to attend the course, and the number of reps who can be released at
any one time for union or TUC training, are subject to negotiation with
your employer. You are also expected to give your employer "reasonable
notice" of the course you wish to attend. If you have any problems obtaining
release from your employer, contact your Senior Rep, a Branch Officer
or your full-time official for help and advice.
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Do
I need any qualifications to come on a course?
No.
Your willingness to take on the job of representing your members, and
your union's endorsement of you as a rep (the course application form
requires a countersignature by a senior union rep or full-time official),
are the only qualifications you need. You have volunteered to do a very
important job - we want to help give you the skills and confidence to
do it effectively.
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What
do I need to bring with me to the course?
Some
paper, a pen and an A4 ring binder. We will provide you with all the
essential course material. You may find it easier to file some of your
notes and handouts in plastic wallets as you go along, and these you
will have to provide yourself.
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Are
the courses open to people with disabilities?
Please contact us in advance of the
course if you have any concerns, and we will do our best to help you.
For example, the college has portable devices which act like hearing
loops and we can lend you one of these if it will help you. Large print
copies of all the main 10 day course materials are available and can
be ordered for you on request.
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I
don't feel very confident about writing. Will that be a problem?
No. Quite a number of the reps who attend our courses initially lack
some confidence in their ability to deal with writing, reading or working
with figures. Don't worry about this - it is quite normal.
There are various ways in which we can provide support. There are no
tests or exams to worry about. Most of the reading, writing and dealing
with figures which you may be asked to do will be done in a friendly
and supportive environment - usually in a small group of 3 or 4 students.
Both the course tutor and other course members will be happy to help
you if they can, and you may be surprised to find that you yourself
can help other course members with something that they can't do as well
as you.
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Will
I have to produce a lot of written work?
No. The printed course materials will provide you with most of what
you need for the course. You will be helped and encouraged to take notes
during the course, but exactly how and when you do this will be up to
you. Nothing that you write will be marked.
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Do
I have to know how to use a computer?
No. During most of our 10 day courses (and some short courses) there
will be an opportunity to use a computer occasionally, but no previous
experience is required, and you will be helped to learn the basics so
that you can do things like find information on the Internet or type
up some notes.
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Will
I have to do homework?
No.
In between some weeks of the course your tutor will ask you to try to
get hold of some information - either from your members, other union
reps, your union office or your employer. This information will be used
during the following week of the course. If you have difficulty getting
the information, there will be an opportunity to discuss this both with
other course members and your course tutor.
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I
may have to miss some days of the course. Will that be a problem?
We ask students to make a serious commitment to the courses they attend.
If there are any days on which you are unlikely to be able to attend,
you should discuss this with the course tutor. All the main 10 day courses
are offered three times a year in a wide range of venues.
If you have any concerns about this, please don't hesitate to contact
us. It is better for you let us know if you think you will have a problem,
rather than make assumptions about what you can and can't do.
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Do
I get any kind of qualification at the end of the course?
All
TUC courses are accredited by the Open College Network (for details
of the accreditation system, click here).
You will receive certificates for all the units of study that you successfully
complete on each course.
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How
long should I wait after doing a Stage 1 course before applying to do
a Stage 2 course?
You should leave a gap of twelve months between a Stage 1 and a Stage
2 course. This will enable you to put into practice the things which
you learnt on the Stage 1, and to evaluate the usefulness of that course
when you come to do the Stage 2.
The
TUC courses last for 20 days and are split into two parts. The Stage
2 courses are every bit as important to your job as the Stage 1 courses.
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