STE COURSES

Residential school
Two one week Residential schools are planned for 1998. The first is during the week of the 16th to 20th March and the second in July during the week 27th to 31st. The courses will run from midday on the Monday to midday on the Friday. Both will be held in Bournemouth.

This school is designed to provide training in some of the most important functions of Branch Officers and local representatives, and to encourage greater participation by increasing membership awareness and knowledge about the STE. The school is for Branch Officers, local representatives, Branch Committee members, and all those who are considering taking up an active role in the Union.

The syllabus will include:

• The structure and Role of the STE
• The Role of Branch Officers and Local Representatives
• Branch Organisation
• Membership Recruitment
• Communications
• Negotiating Techniques

This course covers BT's Grievance and Discipline procedures. Training will provide Branch Officers with the skills to take up and pursue individual members' cases.

Example cases will focus on:

• APR cases
• Pay cases
• Harassment at Work
• Handling Discipline at Work
• Cases involving the BT Investigation Division
• Handling Poor Performance and Long-term Illness cases and Grievances-Independent Reviews

Actively develop you branch image by:

• Creating the right dynamic image for your local organisation
• Developing your strengths – eliminating weaknesses
• Building and presenting a proactive front to members, non-members and management

This course will tackle:

• Achieving the almost impossible with the minimum input and maximum impact
• Developing and managing your resources
• Operating effectively and dynamically.

Women's School
Two, one day courses to be held on the 26th March and 17th September in London.

Assertiveness training for women aimed at developing union skills to help everyone.

Negotiations
A three day course to be held twice in 1998. 1st to 3rd April in London and 6th to 8th July in Manchester.

For Branch representatives involved in pay negotiations. This course will help you develop. A good opportunity to try out your claim before you see your management or your members.

Negotiating Skills
This three day course will be held from the 15th to 17th October in London.

A course allowing you to brush up your negotiating techniques. The practical work involves 6 face-to-face negotiations.

Employment Law stage 1
This two day Employment Law course will be held twice in 1998 on the 28th and 29th April in Sheffield and 20th and 21st October in London.

This is a basic two day course covering the pros and cons of employment contract law.

Employment Law: Discrimination
Employment Law: Variations
These one day courses will be held in London. The Discrimination course is on 15th July and the Variations course on 1st December.

These advanced courses dealing with discrimination and variations of contract are for Branch Representatives who require more specialised knowledge. The course will be tutored by specialists.

Handling Personal Cases
These three day courses will be held on 16th to 18th June in Glasgow, 26th to 28th June in Orpington, Kent and 9th to 11th October in Manchester.

For local Representatives facing an increased caseload of members in difficulties and needing help. In three days there are opportunities to develop and practice one to one interview skills; present a case to management and identify some self preservation techniques. The course underpins a vital role for your members, and the union, in protecting and helping members with problems.

Handling Workplace Issues
This is effectively the second stage of the above course. This three day course will be held in Manchester from 30 September to 2 October.

Using an external counsellor the course explores how to combat bullying and harassment and create a stress free working environment.

For experienced local representatives involved in such issues, wanting to understand the issues and explore and develop working strategies.

You are encouraged to take part in these schools. Contact us for an application form which should be signed by your Branch Secretary and returned to Head Office as soon as possible (but no later than 2 weeks before the course you are applying for is due to start).

Paid leave should be claimed from BT; travelling, subsistence and accommodation expenses will be paid by STE Head Office. The union will repay reasonable costs of care for children, other dependant relatives or partners, necessarily incurred as a result of attending this course.