ABSTRACT
This book has been written at an important time in the development of trade unions’ roles in learning activities and in employment relations more widely. The last few years in the UK have seen new opportunities for unions to become involved in education, training and particularly ‘learning’ activities as part of the government’s learning and skills policy. At the same time, trade unions have had to cope with a declining membership and reduced influence, which has led to a keen interest in a variety of strategies for union renewal. Three issues for examination are therefore, firstly, the nature of the learning itself, its variety of forms and purposes, and the outcomes for individuals involved in learning activities. Secondly, the role of union learning in public policy and political economy of skill; in overcoming disadvantage in qualifications and access to training; in linking to national competitiveness and economic growth; and the learning and skills policies of government and agencies. Thirdly, around the relationship between the learning and union renewal agendas and the role that learning plays for trade unions and the trade union movement as a whole. Paramount in this, as will be seen, is consideration of the distinctiveness and sustainability of trade union learning activities and links to the power of unions to influence employment relations at workplace and national level.
