Sector Skills Councils: a toolkit for trade unionists
Encouraging employer investment in training and skills 7.6
The early criticisms of the first draft SSAs indicated that too much emphasis was placed on how the supply-side (education and training providers) and public sector agencies would respond to the demand for skills training wanted by employers. Unions provide an employee perspective and help ensure SSCs also encourage greater investment in training by employers. Sector skills agreements do not take the place of normal negotiation structures……
7.7
It is important to stress that the presence of one or more union officials on the SSC Management Board or working groups does not equate to union agreement on all aspects of the SSC’s work.
7.8
Board members need to make clear that they are not on the Board in a representational capacity. Consultation or negotiation between individual employers and unions (on, for example, the implementation of occupational standards, or agreements on training and learning) need to take place in the normal way. ………but SSAs provide a useful tool in developing the dialogue with employers on training
7.9
The Sector Skills Agreement does, however, provide an important framework within which discussions with employers about learning and skills can take place. SSAs offer an authoritative analysis of current and future skills issues. SSAs have been endorsed by employers, government and other major partners in the sector, providing a useful tool for unions to use in dialogue on these issues with individual employers.
73