TRADE UNION CENTRE OPENS

‘IT’S a great joy in having someone come in and not know anything about computers and see them walk out with the skills and a smile on their face. There’s a great joy when I take somebody on CE and see them go on to employment.’

This was Patricia Shortt, manager of the Wicklow Trade Union Centre, on the work carried out in the office off Bray’s Main Street.

The centre was establisehd in 1993 and was a response by the Trade Union movement to the problem of unemployment, at that time running at over 4,500 in the Bray area alone. The centre adopted a policy that its service would expand to all the unemployed and disadvantaged, whether coming from a trade union background or not.

‘Initially it was set up for information so that people could access their entitlements and then provide secretarial services to provide with CVs and so on,’ said PAtricia. ‘When I came in 2000 we started training. We got a computer suite from the Bank of Ireland back then and started teaching ECDL, then equal skills, and other computer courses. Then in 2006 we became FETAC accredited so that meant we could offer more training to our client group.’

The whole ethos of the centre is to help people out of unemployment. As well as offering CV and form-filling services, guidance and courses to the public, members of staff at the centre are on community employment schemes.

‘All the staff are unemployed and on CE to get training to get employment. It’s so successful this year that I’ve no staff! We’ve gone down to 11 staff from 19,’ said Patricia.’

People are working there in accounts, on reception, as tutors and in other areas, gaining the skills and confidence to apply for employment.

They offer courses based on what the demand might be, and what can be funded. There are currently 13 people studying customer service, six in equal computer skills, and seven waiting for ECDL.

The centre is also working with Skillsnet, under the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to provide upskill training for people in employment. ‘It’s free training so the employer gets a better work force free of charge, and the individual gains new skills,’ said Patricia.

‘I feel the centre works holistically,’ she said. ‘People come to see the information officer. Things come out of that conversation and they might go for training at the centre or elsewhere. The most important part is the client - the service we have for the client.’

The Bray centre is there and available for the entire county, as well as Shankill.

Funding is provided by the government, directly for staff wages and overheads, and through the individual for things like training.

One of the changes Patricia noticed during the downturn was the emergence of people with third level qualifications looking for CE places.

Now, she said, there would appear to be more jobs out there. ‘It’s lovely to see them getting on,’ she said. ‘Of the staff who have applied for jobs, 99 per cent got them.’

She said that working in Wicklow Trade Union Centre is ‘a very rewarding and enjoyable job’.