Proud to Educate - Scotland

Project Worker - Jim Baxter (SULF Project Worker): I am an ASLEF member and have been seconded to the role of Project Worker for our Proud to Educate project in Scotland.

Up until last year I was a driver at Motherwell Station, I was then seconded to take over the running of our Scottish Union Learning Fund project, and have 20 years service starting in 1987 as a secondman at the old Motherwell shed. In 1991 I was appointed as a driver working freight, local passenger services and freightliner traffic. Due to the privatisation of the railway I moved to Motherwell Station to work for Scotrail. In my time there I have served as the health & safety rep, then as the local level rep as well as the RULR for all rail staff in the area. Currently I’m the vice chair at ASLEF’s Motherwell branch and have been fortunate enough to represent ASLEF on 3 occasions at the STUC congress. I’m a founder member of North Lanarkshire Trades Union Council where I hold the position of chairperson.

The project is run out of The Rail Union Learning Centre on the third floor of Stow College in Glasgow. We have a partnership there with their trade union education department. The learning centre is made up of an office and a classroom that is fully equipped to run computer courses. We also run modern language, digital photography, sign language and everyday skills courses which are all free to our members.

The centre is used as a hub for the project, due to the geographical lay out of Scotland it is impossible for all rail staff to use the facility. With this in mind we run courses at stations, such as locations like Motherwell and Dundee.

For more information please contact me on: Mobile: 0787 2164213 Email: jim.baxter@aslef.org.uk

Highlands Learning Co-ordinator - ASLEF have appointed Inverness train driver Andrew Gardner to the seconded post of Highlands Learning Co-ordinator to help drive on their Scottish Union Learning Fund project. This is a new position that will see him work with Project Worker Jim Baxter to develop and deliver learning for all rail workers in the Highlands.

Andrew is a Train Driver based in Inverness and has worked on the Railway for almost 30 years. He joined the railway in 1979 as a Driver’s Assistant, a post that no longer exists and which was commonly known as a Secondman. He progressed through the grades to Relief Driver and eventually became a Driver in 1988.

As an active trade union member Andrew has held many positions. First, taking over as branch secretary for ASLEF’s Inverness branch in 1982, then as LDC b Rep (that’s LLC to you young un’s) until 1990 from where he was elected to The Sectional Council (now known as the Company Council). He served on the Council, notably as the Secretary, until the end of 2006 when he stood down. He became the Branch Chair at Inverness Branch in 1990 and was elected back onto the LLC in 2007 where he holds the position of secretary. Andrew is also the ASLEF delegate to the Inverness Trades Union Council.

It’s hoped that with Andrew’s appointment rail union members in the Highlands will be afforded the same learning opportunities as their colleagues in the Central Scotland.

Contact details:- Andrew Gardner: Mob. 07713091651 Email andrew.gardner@aslef.org.uk