RSBi Springburn 20th May 2010
On the 20th May 2010 (National Learning at Work Day), a Local History Publication written, produced and designed by Community Union members was launched in the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) – City Building, factory in Springburn, Glasgow.
The publication ‘Manufacturing Abilities since 1804’ is the result of a small local history course that began back in January 2008. The course, which was funded through Community Union’s Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) Project & delivered by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), had brought together a small number of Community members within the factory with a common interest in the history of their local area and the RSBi factory. This course was a great success and soon developed into a small project for the Community members involved who wanted to document all that they had learned throughout the course. They also saw it as an opportunity to educate the rest of their workforce on the history of the factory and how it became the success it is today.
Using the facilities available to them in the workplace learning centre they researched, wrote and designed the publication from scratch – expanding on the writing and IT skills learned from previous courses they had undertaken within the factory. Proud of their passion and commitment, the Community ULR within the factory Audrey McJimpsey arranged an official launch to present the publication to the workforce and management within RSBi (City Building).
The launch was attended by representatives from Community Union, including RSBi Branch Secretary and NEC member Robert Mooney, Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council Councillor Archie Graham, and the management and directorate of City Building – alongside staff from the factory. The Community members who had produced the publication presented it to the invited guests and discussed their personal learning experiences and how their lives had been bettered by union learning. The Managing Director of City Building Willie Docherty spoke at the launch and praised the hard work of the members whilst John Slaven from the STUC spoke about union learning in Scotland and how RSBi was an excellent example of how a good relationship between unions and employers can change the lives of union members in the workplace.
Communitas, the Training and Education Arm of Community Union was able to fund the expansion of the course and the printing costs of the publication through Community Union’s SULF Project.
SULF Project Manager Geraldine Donnelly said:
“The amount of learning that has gone on in RSBi over the past few years is fantastic – particularly in the area of Everyday Skills. This could not have been possible without the Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) and the work of Community Union Learning Reps such as Audrey McJimpsey”.
Copies of the publication are available and can be obtained by contacting Susan or Geraldine in the Communitas Region 1 office on 01698 304575 or susancassidy@communitas.org.uk