Training

Stage 1

The ​BDA ​Trade ​Union ​initial ​training ​course ​for ​Local ​TU ​Reps will be delivered in-person or virtually across four days. Trade Union training is free to attend.

This ​program ​has ​been ​developed ​in ​conjunction ​with ​the ​TUC ​and ​is ​delivered ​by ​professional ​TUC ​tutors. ​It ​is ​essential ​that ​all ​Reps ​complete all four days of this ​​training ​in ​order ​to ​achieve ​accredited ​recognition ​status. ​Established ​TU ​reps ​are ​also ​encouraged ​to ​attend ​to ​refresh ​their ​skills.

Stage 2

The ​BDA ​Trade ​Union Stage 2 ​training ​course ​for ​Local ​TU ​Reps will be delivered in-person across four days. Some of the subjects covered include:

• Dealing with Bullying and Harassment
• Reasonable adjustments
• Dealing with Stress
• The contract of employment
• Resisting contract amendments
• Industrial Action
• Rights to Information
• Employment Tribunals and the role of ACAS

This ​program ​has ​been ​developed ​in ​conjunction ​with ​the ​TUC ​and ​is ​delivered ​by ​professional ​TUC ​tutors. ​It ​is ​essential ​that ​Reps ​complete all four days of this ​​training. Trade Union training is free to attend.

Trade Union Representative Stage 1 Training

The next Stage 1 Training courses will run on the following dates:

• Monday 17 - Thursday 20 April 2023 - BDA offices Birmingham

• October - Virtual - TBC

Trade Union Representative Stage 2 Training

The next Stage 2 Training courses will be run in Scotland in 2023, please check back here for any updates.

For information and guidance on expenses please refer to the TU Expenses Guidance page (Members only)

In homes and neighbourhoods

Evidence shows that broadcast advertising has a significant impact on people’s food choices and eating behaviour, especially children. Children can begin to recognise brands from a very young age, and we know that most of the advertising children are exposed to is on television intended for “adults” during typical family viewing. Reducing our exposure to advertising of products that are not conducive to good physical and mental health, such as HFSS food, gambling and alcohol will have a positive impact.

Ensuring that people can easily access good and affordable food, with reduced exposure to takeaways and other sources of HFSS foods would be significant. Evidence shows that more than a million people live in “food deserts” where they struggle to access healthy food (such as fresh fruit and vegetables) due to poverty, a lack of supermarkets and poor public transport. Where supermarkets are present, they should be prevented from promoting HFSS foods through in store advertising and price promotions, which have been shown to be effective in driving increased sales and are disproportionately used to promote unhealthy options.

Councils need to be encouraged and empowered to reduce the number of hot food takeaways in any given area. Even for those that already exist, by working in partnership local authorities can increase the healthy food they offer and discourage pricing and advertising that targets children and young people with unhealthy options. Some local authorities have a food strategy committee or equivalent, with dietetic representation (e.g. in Leeds, West Yorkshire). This should become consistent policy nationally.         

When going somewhere

Transport is another place where advertising and promotion of products could be restricted. Transport for London have already taken steps to reduce the promotion of HFSS foods and beverages on their network, and it would be positive to see this replicated elsewhere with support from central and local government.  

Encouraging active travel is a positive way to encourage people to exercise more in a safe way.

In workplaces

Full-time working people consume more than half their calories while at work, and many modern jobs are sedentary and not conducive to good health. Equally, evidence shows that shift workers and those that work long hours with frequent overtime are at increased risk of developing conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

Employers should be incentivised to help their employees eat a healthy diet, maintain appropriate work/life balance and take regular exercise. This should include employee involvement in the planning and delivery of interventions, buy in from senior management and multi-level approaches. Initiatives such as BDA Work Ready can help workplaces create a healthier work environment.