What do trade unions want from lifelong learning?

Abstract

It has been usual to see the renewed interest in education and training on the part of the trade union movement in Britain, and indeed in Europe, as a new departure in trade union work, a view the author shared until recently. The general argument of this article, however, is that lifelong learning can also be seen as a new way of seeking to achieve older trade union objectives. An analysis of government, employer and trade union policies on lifelong learning reveals striking coincidences but also differences of emphasis. The article uses a broadly neo-Weberian framework for understanding the conflicting interests in workplace education and training. The article includes a case study of ‘Basic Skills are Union Business’ – the trade union approach to basic skills in the workplace. The article concludes that ongoing research by independent researchers will be of direct benefit to trade unions and their members, and can help to create a loop back into policy and further practice.