All courses will be Taught In-Person in The ICTU Office, 45-47 Donegall Street, Belfast, (Unless otherwise stated) 

Union Learning Representative

This course is designed to introduce the role and rights of the ULR, provide the skills and knowledge the ULR will need to develop and support a culture of learning in the workplace.

The course includes:

• Workplace Learning and the Union Learning Representative
• Equalities and Learning for Trade Unions
• Unions Addressing Learning Needs in the Workplace
• Union Learning Representative Role and Functions
• Unions Getting Organised to Promote Learning
• Union Learning Representatives – Skills
• Working with Employers and Education Providers

7 Mondays

26/01/26 – 09/03/26

New Three Day Course

Preventing Violence at Work

Violence and abuse should never be 'just part of the job' - yet many workers are put at risk every day. Whether it’s verbal aggression, physical assault or online harassment, workplace violence is a serious and growing issue.

This short course has been designed to provide union reps and officials with the knowledge and resources, including legislative protections, to take action to protect workers.

Learners will explore how unions can utilise existing legislation, challenge employer complacency, push for safer workplaces, and support members experiencing violence or abuse – whether from the public, clients, or colleagues.

3 Tuesdays

18/11/25 – 02/12/25

Digital Communications and Organising

This course is aimed at union officials, staff and senior representatives.

The course will include:

• Identifying the best methods of digital communication to engage your members.
• Understanding and utilising social media platforms.
• Demographics and data analytics.
• Developing a communications strategy and content.
• Creating creative content to build membership and maximise members engagement.
• Supporting union campaigns.
• Getting your message into the media.

4 Thursdays

06/11/25 – 27/11/25

 

NIPSA Reps 1

This course will be held in NIPSA HQ, Harkin House, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast, BT9 6DP

This is the first stage course for union reps. It introduces the key concepts and provides a thorough foundation for workplace representatives to develop their knowledge and skills to enable them to carry out their role effectively.

The course will help you:

• understand the job of the union rep in the workplace and the wider union
• dealing with members problems
• represent members with employers
• use and make agreements
• understand how grievances and disciplinaries are handled
• understand employment rights at work
• recruiting members and getting them involved in the union
• meeting management to discuss a range of issues at work
• keeping members in touch with wider issues
• build confidence in your role and responsibilities as a union rep
• develop the skills you need to be an effective rep.

This is a 10-day course, delivered one day a week over 10 weeks.

10 Thursdays

25/09/25 – 04/12/25

No Class 30/10/25

Health and Safety Stage 1

This course will cover the essential knowledge of the role and skills including organising and an understanding of health and safety legislation and how this can be interpreted for the workplace.

The course focuses on the following key areas:

• The role and functions of a trade union health and safety representative.
• Organising for health and safety.
• Preventing accidents and ill health.
• Introduce H&S legislation
• Key skills for a trade union health and safety representative.

The course will help you:

• Identify problems – the main health, safety and welfare issues faced by your members
• Involve members – by making them more aware of health and safety issues and the need for union action
• Improve health and safety – by proposing plans for controlling hazards and improving the working environment
• Use information and the law – tracking down information and knowing how to use it effectively
• Get things done – by working with your union organisation and negotiating effectively with your employer
• Develop skills – to do an effective job as a trade union health and safety representative.

This is a 10-day course, delivered one day a week over 10 weeks.

10 Mondays

22/09/25 – 01/12/25

No Class 27/10/25

Health and Safety Stage 2

This stage 2 course is a necessary progression for health and safety reps.

Course content includes:

• Building a Safe and Healthy Workplace
• Trade Union Health and Safety Organisation
• Trade Unions Keeping up to date on Health and Safety
• Trade Unions Effecting Change in Health and Safety
• Health and Safety Representatives – Expanding Skills

10 Tuesdays

23/09/25 – 16/12/25

No Class 07/10/25, 28/10/25, and 11/11/25

Diploma in Health and Safety Law

This course is designed for experienced Health and Safety Reps who wish to further develop their knowledge, skills and expertise.

It supports the development and practice of health and safety and enables safety reps to move to higher levels of study and activism.

The aims of the diploma are:

• to help learners develop their knowledge of health and safety
• to help learners build health and safety organisation in the workplace
• to help learners to tackle health, safety and welfare and environmental issues in the workplace
• to deepen and extend the capacities of learners, enabling them to access union health and safety posts or higher education opportunities
• to develop personal/study skills, the ability to work collectively and improve the confidence of learners to study at a higher level.

Although there are no entry requirements for the course, other than a commitment to trade unionism, the course does require some significant written work by way of assignments and a project.

The Tutor will provide any support necessary to assist the completion of the assignments and the project.

The course is run over an academic year (September to June), delivered once a week over 36 weeks.

Fridays: 25/09/25 – 12/12/25

No Class 31/10/25

Handling Grievances

The course will include:

Understanding discipline and grievance process and procedures.

Increasing knowledge of the law surrounding the handling of discipline and grievance in the workplace.

Increasing skills and knowledge to prepare strategies for representing members at grievance and discipline hearings.

This is a 5-day course, delivered one evening a week over 5 weeks.

3 Tuesdays, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

14/10/25 – 18/11/25

No Class 28/10/25

Taking a case to Tribunal

This 5 day course is aimed at building knowledge and skills of officials, reps and others who may be involved in taking cases for members to Employment and Fair Employment Tribunals. The course will cover:

• Critical overview of the tribunal system.
• Practical step by step guide to pursuing a case through the tribunal process.
• Key aspects of unfair dismissal and discrimination case law.

5 Tuesdays

07/10/25 – 11/11/25

No Class 28/10/25

There will be a range of short courses circulated in the coming weeks.

When registering, it is advised to supply an email that you have access to, as all course information is conveyed via email.

Further information

If you require any further information about the above courses, please contact Kevin Doherty at, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Registration

If you are interested in any of the above courses, please return a completed application form by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ensuring you supply your preferred email address. A Training Course Application Form and a Training Course Special Leave Application Form are attached. It is also important that you seek time off to attend from your employer at an early stage. As some of the Courses fill quickly, it is advisable to apply for your chosen course at the same time as applying for release time.

Confirmation of acceptance will be issued directly from NIC-ICTU. You will also receive pre-course materials nearer the time of the course from NIC-ICTU.