Trade Unions And Workplace Training

Trade Unions and Workplace Training examines the changing role of trade unions in the provision of vocational education, workplace training and skill development. It reflects upon: the role that unions have played in the reform of vocational education and training systems; the nature of union involvement in consultative mechanisms at a national and industry level; the nature of union involvement in skill formation at the workplace; and the development of mechanisms for the articulation of employee voice in the design, delivery and assessment of vocational training.
The book provides a collection of studies of Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Norway by leading researchers in the field. Distinctive, accessible and original, all the chapters are written in a style that illustrates the relevance of academic debates and research data to practice and the book includes a number of the chapters written by trade union practitioners.

Richard Cooney is Lecturer in Management at Monash University, Australia and an associate editor of the journal Labour & Industry. His research focuses upon teamworking, workforce development and occupational regulation. Richard is co-convenor of the International Conference on Training, Employability and Employment (CTEE).

Mark Stuart is Professor of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations and Director of the Centre for Employment Relations Innovation and Change at the University of Leeds. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Work, Employment and Society and Chair of the International Section of the Labor and Employment Relations Association. His work focuses on union-led workplace skills development, employment restructuring and the modernisation of employment relations. Mark is co-convenor of the International Conference on Training, Employability and Employment (CTEE).

1.Introduction: Trade Unions and Vocational Education and Training in Theory and Practice Richard Cooney and Mark Stuart Part 1: The Theory and Practice of Unions and Training 2. Conceptualising Employee Voice on Workplace Training Provision and Employability in Britain: An Emergent Process Helen Rainbird 3. The Dimensions of Union Interest in Training: Trade Unions and Workplace Training in Australia Richard Cooney Part 2: Unions, Training and Social Institutions 4. Moving Beyond the Rhetoric? Unions and Training in Canada: Challenges and Policy Perspectives Jean Charest 5. Trade Unions and Workplace Training in France: Social Partners and VET Francoise Le Deist and Jonathan Winterton 6. The Shifting Role of Trade Unions in the German VET System Vera Trappmann 7. Trade Union Involvement in Lifelong Learning in Norway Berit Kvalsvik Teige and Mark Stuart Part 3: Training and Union Renewal 8. American Unions and the Institutionalisation of Workplace Learning: Innovations for New Work Systems and Labor Movement Renewal Daniel Marschall 9. Social Dialogue or State Monologue? The Role of Unions in the UK Learning and Skills System Bert Clough. Notes on Contributors. Notes. Index