Trade Union Studies

TUC Union Reps Stage 1

Level 1 - Certificate

What is Level 1?

This is equivalent to GCSE Grades 3-1 / D-G or O Level grades D-G

Find out what it means to be a union rep, how to represent our members effectively and how to take up both collective and individual issues with your employer. You will also think about the future and how to influence where it is taking you and those you represent.

Prefer to talk? Call 01226 776000 or email advice@northern.ac.uk and one of our team will get back to you.

Level 1

This is equivalent to GCSE Grades 3-1 / D-G or O Level grades D-G

Find out about progression

Course description

The course helps union representatives to understand their role and responsibilities as a rep. They include working together with members and other union reps; talking to members and dealing with their problems; recruiting members and getting them involved in the union; meeting management to discuss a range of issues at work and keeping members informed about wider union concerns.

Course content

This course will be delivered over 10 weeks in a classroom every week.

Course Content

understand the job of the union rep in the workplace and the wider union
use and make agreements
represent members in discussions with employers
understand how grievances and disciplinaries are handled
understand rights at work
build confidence in your role and responsibilities as a union rep
develop the skills you need to be an effective rep

What can this course lead to?

This course leads onto the Certificate in Employment law (Level 2).

This course could lead onto the Health and Safety Stage 1 (Level 1).

Course session dates

Tailored Learning Objective

Preparation for further learning

Useful information

Thursday 23^rd January 2025 to Thursday 3^rd April 2024 (No classes 20^th February).

This course will be delivered at Northern College

Wednesday 30^th April 2025 to Wednesday 9^th July 2025 (No classes 28^th May).

This course will be delivered at Northern College

When does this start and end?

We have 2 different start dates for this course:

23 January 2025 - 3 April 2025
30 April 2025 - 9 July 2025

What are the entry requirements?

Students must be trade union representatives.

Trade Union Education at Northern College is meaningful, purposeful, accessible and rewarding. There are no exams, or long lectures, the education programme involves practical activities where you will work with your peers. This is an opportunity to step back from your job and your activist work to think and learn. Skills development and confidence building are essential elements of all Trade Union courses.

“Northern College changed my life. A year into studying here I got a job and then became a supervisor.” - Michelle
Learn more about Michelle's story

I have been here two months now and I couldn't wish for a better place to study. I'm studying Health Science and it has many interesting modules. My tutors are amazing... Thank you to all the staff at Northern College. You couldn't do your job any better! Cannot wait to progress.

Northern college is a wonderful place. Studied various courses to progress and plan to achieve a Diploma in Humanities and Social Science. Thanks to all the tutors and staff. The only way is up.

It has been a busy few weeks since the course concluded. Flexi-working meeting, grievances and disciplinaries amongst other things , been putting all the things taught to us into practice

The way the course was taught was highly beneficial, and a testament to the teaching, and the ability to put the various aspects across, in a manner that enabled us all to learn and understand.

TUC Student