EC Meeting November 2018

Trade Union Official Apprenticeship

Trailblazer meeting.

November 5 th 2018. Quorn Grange Hotel.

In attendance: Doug Nicholls, GFTU, Barbara Kielem, Unite, ??NAS UWT, Carl Parker, GMB, Derreck Byrne Nautilus International, Amisha ?? RCN, Joe Simpson, POA, Sarah Jane McConnell TSSA, Deborah Lawson, VOICE, Paul Skitt, Ruskin College. Apologies: Tristram ?? Community, Ronnie Draper, BFAWU, Keith Johnson PCS, Paul De Felice, Ruskin College, Ian Lawrence, NAPO. 1 A Background was given for new attendees and the IFA Website was used to remind members of the processes of forming an apprenticeship.

2 The working group of Barbara, Sarah and Carl had produced an agenda and tabled papers relating to the key work for approval.

3

Barbara was Chair of the Trailblazer Group and main point of contact for the IFA relationship manager Shona Williams. A meeting between our working group and Shona would be held on December 10 th . Additional members would be welcome to that meeting if they could. Contact Barbara. Action: Working Group .

4 The employer membership of the Trailblazer Group was confirmed and in addition Carl would have further contact with FBU, NEU, UCU and USDAW. Action Carl.

5 A draft pro forma for Trailblazer group members was agreed with the addition of a request for any donation for funding and the addition of Ruskin, GFTU and TUC as non- employer members. The pro forma would also include a question relating to likely take up within the union concerned, an initial indication from group members themselves was positive. It was recognised that the development was of significance for the whole movement in creating a new generation of officials. Action Barbara. 6 The working group had produced a general statement of intent as required by the IFA. The statement should focus on the uniqueness of this occupational area and a number of points were made to emphasise the very unique role of trade union official. The working group would amend and submit. Action Working Group.

7 Following considerable discussion it was agreed to present the trade union official apprenticeship as being at Level 4 and between 18-24 months in duration.

8 The Key duties and key criteria paper from the working group was discussed in detail. It was agreed to amend this by having two additional options: advanced organising and advanced casework. It was further agreed to amend the final section on administration by reference to overall management responsibility of the key elements of the role. Action Working Group.

9 The aspirational timetable still remained: Trailblazer Group meeting March 4 th , launch, possibly at TUC September 2019, and roll out from January 2020.