Education and Training

The CWU provides branch representatives and committee members with professional training to give the best service possible to the members.

The CWU enjoys an enviable reputation in the wider trade union and labour movement for the excellence of its education and training programme. The union firmly believes that education and training should be made available to all members. The CWU recognises that properly targeted education and training will ensure that the members develop the skills and confidence required to take part effectively in the industrial relations process.

Most courses take place the the CWU's own Education and Training Centres.

The CWU's new Education and Training web site has more information: www.cwueducation.org

CWU Activists can Study to Degree Level at London Metropolitan University

CWU activists can now apply to study to degree level with the union. Studying at this level is designed to enhance and develop trade union activism in preparation for taking on a variety of roles within the labour movement.

Training Principles

CWU courses cover all aspects of branch organisation including equal opportunity issues, computing, industrial relations and global issues.

The CWU would summarise the aims of its education programme as follows:

• To broaden members' understanding of their roles, rights and responsibilities in the CWU, their industry and society,
• To provide members with the skills required to negotiate effectively with management and to ensure effective influence on decisions important to members at the workplace,
• To fight discrimination by encouraging greater participation in union activities, especially by women and ethnic minorities,
• To assist the CWU in carrying out its responsibilities to represent its members' interests,
• To promote workers' solidarity in the world and to develop and strengthen free and democratic unions,
• To encourage CWU members to develop their own educational potential in order to better serve the trade union and labour movement.

CWU Learning Centres

The CWU has been totally supportive of the Government's strategy for improving literacy and numeracy.

In 1999 the publication of Lord Moser's report sent shock waves through the educational establishment. It showed that 7 million adults had difficulty in finding 'Plumber' in the Yellow Pages! Because of their poor levels of literacy and numeracy (one person in five has problems with reading and many more have problems with numbers) the Moser report was the catalyst that began the Government crusade on Essential Skills.