General Federation of Trade Unions
News Xtra
GFTU HAS SUCCESSFUL BID TO UNION MODERNISATION FUND
Posted on Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Federation’s Educational Trust has been successful with a bid to the Department for Business , Innovation and Skills (BIS) under the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF) Round 3. The project , in conjunction with Thompsons Solicitors & REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation), seeks to generate new services for affiliates with the provision of an employment rights service for vulnerable workers. This will be delivered via employment rights fairs to showcase good practice in employment ; the development of information materials ; and the provision of training sessions for vulnerable workers , trainers and equality reps.
BIS has made £2.46million available to fund 14 projects to help Unions improve their ability to meet the needs of hard to reach groups of vulnerable workers. UMF provides financial assistance to trade unions and their federations for innovative projects with the potential to transform their effectiveness. Bids are assessed by an independent Supervisory Board comprising individuals from union , academic and industry backgrounds.
Minister for Employment Relations Lord Young said " The latest round of UMF focuses on protecting some of the most vulnerable people in the working population. Unions have demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for helping vulnerable workers and working with community and voluntary organisations.The overall quality of the applications was very high but the bids selected for funding are those which are the most forward looking and offer the most transformational potental."
GFTU General Secretary Mike Bradley said" I am delighted by this news and the opportunity for us to further develop our work for affiliated Unions.Our partnership with Thompsons is long standing and extremely beneficial. I am very confident that we will deliver over the next two years a successful project and we will also be stepping up our project bidding resources as part of our Strategic Plan 2009/11."
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