I had the great pleasure of hosting a visit to the Parliament of this year’s recipient of the STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning.
Helen Dowie, a Trade Unionist, a socialist and a wonderful person lived in Crossgates, Fife, worked in Rosyth Dockyard for 20 years and was taken far too soon but is remembered with deep affection by everyone who knew her and admired her genuine commitment to supporting working people in this country and across the world. 2015 marked the 10th year of the STUC Helen Dowie Award. A tribute film to Helen can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/H3PyI_eCUWM
The winner of the 2014 award Willie Brennan came to Parliament last week along with Ronnie Draper the General Secretary of his union, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union http://www.bfawu.org/ and union official Mark McHugh along with Jennifer Payne of the STUC.
Willie is a Union Learning Rep and Shop Steward at Dawnfresh Seafoods at Uddingston and his story is one of supporting and encouraging workers to get back into learning brushing us on skills like numeracy, literacy and ICT and embarking on a learning journey of support and self improvement.
Willie was also met by the First Minster Nicola Sturgeon who joined in congratulating him on his and his fellow work colleagues achievements in adult education and learning.
For more information on STUC and union learning see http://www.scottishunionlearning.com/
