Trade unions and learning: building a better future

Trade unions have a long history of providing learning for their members. After years of decline this flourished after the 1997‐2010 Labour government introduced the Union Learning Fund and legal rights for union learning representatives. This article reviews that extraordinary renaissance and discusses how a new Labour government could learn the lessons of the first ULF and introduce a new, and stronger, version helping millions of working people, including the most disadvantaged, encouraging employers to invest more in training, promoting economic growth, and rebuilding a key element of adult learning.