ABSTRACT
This chapter will provide an historical overview of trade union involvement in education and workplace learning. It does not claim, nor attempt, to be an exhaustive account as neither time nor space would allow for this. A general understanding of the historical context is both relevant and important, however, in order to highlight issues and discussion points, reference points against which to analyse contemporary union learning activities and to enable the understanding of outcomes for the individual and the workers’ movement as a whole, together with the relationship with employers and institutions. In particular, the past rationale for and agendas behind trade union involvement and the variety of forms of this involvement are key to an understanding of the present.
