Trade union membership is rising in workplaces where unions are promoting learning and training at work, according to a report by the TUC.

The report ‘Union strength through the learning agenda’ suggests that unions enjoy a stronger standing in the workplace where they have reacted to the learning needs of the workforce.

The perception of the union improves amongst all employees and the union-employer relationship improves in companies where learning reps play a strong role.

The key findings of the TUC commissioned research showed:

· 59 per cent of learning reps said that learning had had a positive impact on union membership

· 69 per cent of reps said the perception of the union by both members and non-members had improved

· 74 per cent said union-employer relations had improved.

Union learning reps are trained to identify the learning needs of their workmates and in the last year alone they helped over 60,000 employees benefit from training.