Management-level staff in retail and finance were awarded certificates which formally recognised their skills at a ceremony at the South Eastern Regional College (SERC) campus in Lisburn.
The workers attained the training through the NIC-ICTU’s UnionLearn programme, which is sponsored by the Department for the Economy and offers targeted in-work training and upskilling for union members.
On Thursday, 15 members of the Financial Services Union and 10 members from the retail union USDAW were handed their qualifications by Terry Park on behalf of the department’s further education section. The courses in Project Management and First Line Management were organised through UnionLearn and delivered by SERC educators.
USDAW education co-ordinator Lorna Morton said: “Following a complete restructure across Tesco which affected up to 9,000 jobs across the UK, mainly in managerial positions, the USDAW education officials recognised from different employers that the majority of managers come through management programmes but have no formal qualifications for their job role.
“These courses formalised and recognised the skills of these workers and are transferable for later career opportunities.”
USDAW members remain amongst the most disadvantaged and vulnerable workers in the UK in educational background, skills base, and progression opportunities.
Marian Geoghegan from the Financial Services Union said: “Many of the challenges facing retail workers are similar to those facing workers in finance, not least the shift by customers to online and away from the high street.
“That is why trade unions need to work closely with government and employers to ensure that our members hold the skills and the recognition of those skills, to add stability to a increasingly precarious working environment.”
For the 2018/19 year UnionLearn has delivered 2,160 courses for members of 11 participating trade unions, across all sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, education, health, retail and services. It has been managed by the NI Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions since 2002.
Ms Morton added: “Through obtaining funding from Department for the Economy, USDAW were able to fully fund this CMI Level Three Award in Project Management course through the SERC. Our project focused on providing accessible and affordable learning, providing people with the fundamental skills to gain, maintain and progress in their employment.
“We had two classes running in Tesco Craigavon and at the SERC in Lisburn with 20 learners and who now have completed this qualification. Learners came from Tesco, Asda, Argos, Coca-Cola and Co-Op.”