Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
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How Unite is developing the trade unionists of tomorrow
LUCY WOOD reports on the success of the Unite in Schools programme that’s taking the values of the movement into the classroom
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AN increasingly popular classroom session in secondary schools and sixth-form colleges is teaching children about trade unions.
The national programme run by Unite the Union teaches 15 to 18-year-olds how trade unions work to improve the pay and conditions of their members as well as protecting them against discrimination or bullying.
London & Eastern community and Unite in Schools co-ordinator Vic Paulino says: “When we go there and ask them if they have ever heard of a trade union, none of them know what a trade union is. Not one of them it is just ridiculous that we don’t have that in our curriculum.”
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