Union Modernisation Fund: round two projects

An evaluation of UMF2 (PDF, 554 Kb)  was undertaken by the Centre for Employment Relations innovation and Change at the University of Leeds.

Accord and Amicus - Rep training in partnership

The project sought to develop capacity to support and train reps in understanding modern business practices as part of the existing partnership agreement with HBOS.

Accord and Unite: developing union reps within a partnership framework at HBOS (PDF, 63 Kb) 

Amicus – Amicus Workplace Equality Reps Development Project

The project sought to form an integral part of the Amicus Equality Strategy, this project facilitates implementation of equality representative within the union’s workplace, administrative and democratic structures in the two year transitional period facilitating full integration within the TGWU. The project will facilitate the development of 400 members of the union as equality reps; ensure they have access to training; recognition by their employer, recognition by the union and communication tools.

Amicus – Amicus Workplace Equality Reps Development Project (PDF, 76 Kb)  

Association of Professionals in Education and Children's Trusts (ASPECT) - The Next Generation: Modernising Communications for Trade Unionists in the 21st Century

The project sought to develop an inter-active intranet facility for members and staff to improve communications, improve access to information and underpin a better understanding of diversity issues.

Union Modernisation Fund Round two: ASPECT - The next generation - Modernising Communications for Trade Unionists in the 21st Century - Aspect case study (PDF, 58 Kb) 

Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) - Developing Effective and Representative Lay Structures

The project sought to equip lay reps to undertake a broader branch role via an improved communications infrastructure and a training and development programme.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) (PDF, 85 Kb) 

Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) - Modernising our organisation

The project sought to implement outcomes from their two successful Round One projects, by developing a training programme for members to use the new membership system and using a professional data cleansing and collection service to populate the new system.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union: building their modernisation agenda (PDF, 452 Kb) 

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) - BECTU: the networked union

The project sought to transform the members' relationship with the union by using web-enabled tools to empower them and enable them to: influence policy, take control of their own records, communicate directly with colleagues and access services more easily.

BECTU: Modernising Two-Way Communications (PDF, 67 Kb) 

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and six other unions - Collaborative Working: feasibility study and implementation plans

The project sought to undertake a feasibility study to explore opportunities for collaborative working. The aim is to identify the scope for sharing facilities and support services and thereby reduce infrastructure costs and improve the quality of services

Allied Health Professions: investigating options for collaboration (PDF, 145KB)

Communications Workers Union (CWU) - Deconstructing Equality Barriers through Union Training

The project sought to further modernise their equality-based education and training materials via an interactive toolkit on equality legislation and a best practice guide on industrial relations.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Communication workers union (CWU) : the debut project. (PDF, 48 Kb) 

Communications Workers Union (CWU) - Youth Empowerment Strategy

The project sought to radically transform CWU's approach to recruiting and empowering young workers via development of a dedicated resource focussed on developing and supporting young reps, and with the aim of mainstreaming youth activity across union structures.

Community - Community Trade Unionism and the NEC: contributing to the union's modernisation

The project sought to improve understanding between full-time officers and the NEC via an education programme covering strategy, culture, marketing and financial skills similar to their successful Round One project.

Community trade unionism and the NEC - contributing to the union's modernisation (PDF, 60 Kb)  

Equity – Get In On the Act: increasing participate among Equity members

The project sought to increase participation of Members in the union and activism. This would be delivered through: taking the union to the Members and increasing engagement and participation; stimulating interest in the traditional and developing areas of Equity’s work; reinvigorating the democratic structures such as Specialist Committees and developing new roles such as Equality Reps and Equity Ambassadors; overhauling voting processes; engaging better with Student and younger Members to give them a voice in the union.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Equity - get in on the act (PDF, 223 Kb) 

FDA - FDA Integrated Membership System and Website

The project sought to develop an integrated membership system and website to transform the unions' communications and membership services.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - The First Division Association (FDA) - developing an integrated membership system and website (PDF, 87 Kb) 

General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) – Trade Union Leadership Development

The project aimed to develop existing and future leaders of the GFTU and its affiliates to transform unions’ cultures and structures to include, develop and empower women and BME leaders. This would be achieved via a programme of research, training and dissemination.

General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) & Ruskin College – progressing trade union leadership and development (PDF, 83 Kb)   

General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) and Connect - A New Agenda for Equality in the Workplace: training for equality reps

The project sought to develop training and on-line learning opportunities for equality reps, as well as establish national and union-based networks for reps. GFTU will work with the CEHR to ensure synergies with their policy priorities.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - General Federation of Trade Unions and Connect (GFTU) – A new agenda for equality in the workplace (PDF, 61 Kb) 

GMB - Developing Modern Management Methods in the GMB

The project sought to respond to the challenges generated by recent change within the union and pro-actively improve internal management systems, develop a team culture and implement a sustained performance improvement.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - GMB - Developing our management structures (PDF, 7.3 Mb) 

The Musicians Union (MU) - Managing Change: transforming our traditional structures

The bid sought to build on their Round One project and undertake a major consultation exercise to research the effectiveness of existing structures - and identify options for modernising them, increasing diversity and improving members' participation in union affairs.

The Musicians' Union: exploring ways to engage members (PDF, 113KB)

National Union of Teachers (NUT) - Fairer futures: Putting Equality Opportunities at the Heart of NUT Local Structures

The project sought to build the capacity and effectiveness of equal opportunities officers (EOOs) and re-vitalise participation in NUT's local structures. This will be delivered via recruitment of additional EOOs, a training and development programme and development of a good-practice network.

National Union of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) - Support for overseas trained teachers in London and the South-East

The project sought to provide more effective access to information for overseas trained teachers (OTTs) on professional aspects of the teachers' role as well as social and cultural issues; and to enhance the effectiveness with which the union responds to the needs of OTTs. This would be delivered via a dedicated website and targeted training for union equality officers.

Nautilus UK – lay and full-time officials training course

The project sought to fund a training programme, in conjunction with Ruskin College, to equip all their officials and over 100 lay reps with the skills necessary to represent members in the global market place.

Nautilus: developing a truly international union (PDF, 408 Kb)  

Prospect - Building capacity within the defence sector to develop and sustain Prospect equality reps

The project sought to extend the scope of the union's activities in the defence sector to groups currently marginalised, and transform representative structures. This would be achieved by undertaking initial research; developing strategies to overcome barriers to participation; establishing training, development and mentoring programmes; and mainstreaming the activity in collective bargaining/consultative machinery.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Prospect - building capacity within the defence sector to develop and sustain Prospect equality representatives (PDF, 84 Kb) 

Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) – equality representatives

The project sought to revitalise the recruitment, training, development and support we provide for our local equality representatives. It will raise their profile and status while at the same time equipping them with the skills, knowledge & experience to change the workplace into a more diverse and less discriminatory place.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - PCS - equality representatives training development & support manager (PDF, 104 Kb) 

Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) - Mentoring for Women Reps

The project sought to tackle the under-representation of women in key branch and regional union positions within PCS Wales via an accredited mentoring, skills training and leadership training programme.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), in conjunction with Wales TUC and Coleg Gwent- Mentoring women reps (PDF, 83 Kb) 

Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) - T&G21: Modernising Management and Training

The project sought to bring in external expertise to design and pilot a management training programme as part of a broader change process which aims to tackle the challenges presented by the changing workplace.

Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) (PDF, 77 Kb) 

Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) - Underpinning Equalities: capacity building and beyond

The project sought to mainstream the equalities agenda by assisting the unions Self-Organising Groups to engage with their constituents; provide modular, tailored training for reps; and build capacity through a network of lay advisors.

Trades Union Congress (TUC) - Green Workplaces

The project sought to develop new skill-sets for members and employers which will enable them to work together to promote energy and resource efficient, sustainable workplaces. This will be achieved via a series of pace-setter projects, the results of which will be widely disseminated.

TUC GreenWorkplaces – greening the work environment (PDF, 80 Kb) 

Trades Union Congress (TUC) - Training and evaluating union equality reps

The project sought to develop a targeted training programme for tutors and union equality reps to ensure they focus on relevant issues and engage effectively with both employers and members.

TUC: training equality reps (PDF, 299KB)

Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) - Managing Change: modernising our capacity to respond, develop effective partnerships and engage with members

The project sought to respond to a series of internal and external challenges and implement a broad-based change programme. This would be delivered via: development of an on-line communications centre; a membership survey to inform the modernisation process; and a training programme for lay reps and officers.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Union of Construction and Allied Technical Trades (UCATT) – embedding modernisation across the union (PDF, 76 Kb) 

Unison - Migrant Workers Participation Project

The project sought to respond to the increasing diversity of the labour market (including those originating from within the EU) and improve Unison's ability to supply services geared to the needs of a diverse membership. The aim is to involve migrant workers at all levels of the union, and reduce economic and social exclusion.

Unison: migrant workers participation project (PDF, 68 Kb) 

Unison - Establishing equality reps in Unison

The project sought to support Unison's equality strategy by training and development of equality reps; capacity building to engage more effectively with employers; and improvements to service delivery to ensure equality and diversity issues are addressed effectively by employers.

Union Modernisation Fund - Round 2 - Unison: establishing equality reps (PDF, 75 Kb) 

Unison - Virtual Branches Proposal

The project sought to respond to changing employment patterns and pilot a virtual branch network to better target members, empower them to participate in branch affairs, and overcome traditional barriers to participation.

Unison - virtual branches (PDF, 109 Kb) 

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) - Developing Competent and Confident Managers

The project builds on their successful Round One UMF project, which focused on developing the systems and processes for the strategic management of the union, via introduction of a best practice management model. It seeks to develop new skills and behaviours in the senior management team, which will drive the new system, as well as extend the training to the next tier of the organisation.

USDAW - developing competent and confident managers (PDF, 91 Kb) 

Click on the link to view details of the grant paid to round two projects.

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