In-House Delegate Training
Our Delegates play a vital role in supporting our members. Often the first point of contact, they assist members by:
- Representing and assisting them in workplace grievances, disputes and disciplinary meetings
- Representing member views at Joint Consultative Committees and other key workplace forums.
Our delegates support our work by:
- Recruiting new members
- Assisting with USU local and state-wide campaigns.
The USU’s wide-spread network of Delegates across the Local Government, Energy, Airlines and Private Sectors offers vital assistance to the Union’s Organisers and industrial staff in protecting and enhancing working conditions and ensuring safe workplaces.
We want our Delegates to succeed and feel supported, which is why we provide comprehensive in-house training to all delegates. The product of a partnership with the GMB (General Municipal and Boilermakers Union) in the UK, the training is called USU@WORK and has been developed for the Australian and has been adapted for the Australian context by our officials.
Delegate Basics
A mandatory two day course for new delegates. This training covers the basic skills a delegate needs to be successful in their role.
USU@WORK
USU@Work is delivered as a two day face-to-face course followed by 8 hours (1 hour per week for 8 weeks) of mentoring by our organisers.
USU@Work is mapped against two units of competency from the Certificate IV Unionism and Industrial Relations, which are:
- Develop and implement an organising plan; and
- Communicate with workers
The philosophy behind USU@WORK is that an organised workplace is more than just a group of members who happen to share the same employer. An organised workplace is one where strength is built through good communication and a commitment to fairness and workers’ rights. We can do this by ensuring there are enough well-trained Union Delegates to make sure that our members have extensive representation throughout the entire workplace.
Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Training
The United Services Union is also committed to taking a constructive role in promoting improvements in work health and safety practices, and assisting persons conducting businesses or undertakings and workers to achieve a healthier and safer working environment, and promoting the provision of advice, information, education and training in relation to work health and safety.
The Union will recommence delivery of Health and Safety Representative training in early 2024. The USU’s training is very cost effective and can be delivered in our training rooms in metropolitan Sydney or in regional areas if required.
Joint Consultative Committee Training
At the request of a number of councils, the Union has developed a training package based on the requirements of the Consultative Committee Clause within the Local Government (State) Award. The training looks at the Award requirements for consultation and delivers a complete package according the requirements of the Award.
One HR Manager said, “I personally felt that the training provided was high quality, informative and kept the group engaged throughout the day. Not to mention great value for money.”