Union Learning Reps

Sonia Mullings has been Learning Rep for Willesden Garage since summer 2002 and has been a bus driver for over six years. Originally from the Caribbean, Sonia is a lone parent with four children and works full time at the garage. She is an active member of the T&G and is also a committee member. Sonia thinks it is a wonderful thing for workers to be able to continue learning throughout their lives, and especially in the workplace, as she says, knowledge has no age. She feels the opportunity that the Learning Bus provides is great for Metroline and she hopes that this will open access for workers to continue learning in new areas of study. She loves encouraging her colleagues to take this important step towards their future. 

Alan Kelley is one of two Union Learning Reps based at Potters Bar, the other being Peter Forrest. Alan runs the Road Ahead Learning Centre from within the garage, with superb support from Peter. The centre is linked to the Trade Union Hub, via the College of North East London, who provide top quality tutor support for online courses in beginners and intermediate ICT, and Skills for Life courses in Numeracy and Literacy, up to and including the Level 2 National Certificates. The centre caters for employees of the company, their immediate family and retired members.

Alan is currently in his second year of study for an M.A. in Labour & Trade Union studies at the London Metropolitan University, his dissertation will be based on ULR's.

Alan has recently completed the Adult Learners Support Certificate, T&G Tutors National Training Course and TUC Discussion Leaders Course. His background and progression route has been in Industrial Relations, sits on the Learning on the Move steering committee, having previously held union officers posts within the branch at Potters Bar Garage. Alan is an enthusiastic advocate of Lifelong Learning, seeing life as a continuous learning opportunity, the good and the bad. Also keen on sport, books, supporting the underdog and the health of the planet.

Clive Randall is Union Learning Rep for Edgware Garage.  Clive has worked with London Transport since 1977. He became a Union Learning Rep in 2004 and during that time has encouraged family learning and retired members to learn new and basic skills. He enjoys football refereeing and looking after his Koi carp. Clive has two children.

Paul Ayres is Union Learning Rep for Harrow Weald Garage.

Steve Adams is Union Learning Rep for Holloway Garage. He has been instrumental in the Learning Bus project, so much so, that two years into the project, he set up the learning centre at Holloway garage, which is now open Monday to Friday. As well as enabling union members to take part in learning, Steve has continued his own learning within a trade union setting. He is also a committee member of the T&G at his garage in Holloway.

Tom O'Callaghan is Union Learning Rep for Cricklewood Garage and has been a T&G member for 36 years , during which time he was branch Chair. He is currently Shop Steward, Health and Safety Rep, Union Learning Rep and Pension Trustee. Tom started as the Project Coordinator on the Learning Bus in March 2002. He currently  works 4 days per week helping the tutors to create a classroom environment where learning has helped break down barriers, especially between drivers and engineers, where they are now on first name terms. 

Judy Cox is Union Learning Rep for North Wembley Garage, where she has been a driver since early 2005. She is also on the Sports and Social committee.

Judy has studied secretarial studies, basic and advance IT and has just completed advance PC Maintenance and Repair. She is also a qualified playworker for children aged 3-15.

Judy wants to encourage her co-workers to make use of the Learning Bus so that they can take their first steps to being computer literate. She believes that we learn new things every day and that learning never stops.

Visiting Tutors

Ruth Silverstone has been training on the Learning Bus since May 2002. She has worked as a Trade Union Educator for the College of North East London since 1999, lecturing in IT and Communication Skills. Ruth strongly believes that by encouraging learners to work at their own pace, making learning relevant to life and work, as well as making the sessions fun to take part in, participants are more likely to achieve personal and academic success.  She produces training materials used on the Bus. Ruth is a member of NATFHE and Equity.

Kofi Amo teaches four days a week on the bus. As well as being an ICT teacher, Kofi builds and repairs computers and is the ideal person to explain the mechanics of a PC and troubleshoot problems asked of him by Metroline learners.