Responding to the education debate at Usdaw’s Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Dave McCrossen – Usdaw Deputy General Secretary said: “Trade unions play a pivotal role in giving members access to lifelong learning. Where a union is recognised within a workplace, all members should have access to union learning facilities.
 
“If non-members in non-recognised workplaces requested access to union lifelong learning, it would give the union access to a non-recognised workplace that we may be struggling to get into and help promote union membership.
 
“Trade union lifelong learning is an important way for workers to access education.
Lifelong learning is an important benefit for employees. It helps to build a skilled and educated workforce, which is good for the economy and it promotes and profiles the positive contribution trade unions can make to a workplace.
 
“Usdaw has a long, proud history of supporting the lifelong learning agenda.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
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