STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning
The STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning recognises outstanding trade unionists who continue to demonstrate their commitment to union values and lead the learning movement forward in Scotland.
The award is named in honour of Helen Dowie, who was involved in the trade union movement in Fife for most of her adult life. She worked in Rosyth Dockyard for twenty years and was active within the civil service unions. Through her union, Helen organised the yard, campaigned on initiatives and supported many workers. She took the union into the community through the organisation of the Rosyth Festival and music events, highlighting important union campaigns.
Along with her partner, Mike Morris, Helen started the Trades Council News in Fife. By writing, printing, editing and distributing the newssheet, Helen and Mike kept union members aware of the issues and also spread the word more widely throughout Fife. Helen and Mike made many solid friendships through their union involvement.
Helen worked to support the development of education and learning in Scotland. She was a key player in supporting the development of the lifelong learning agenda that union members know today, and she worked hard to secure financial backing to support unions in developing the role of the Union Learning Representative.
Helen’s life was devoted to supporting others through the trade union movement, and her untimely death was mourned by trade unionists throughout Scotland. This award commemorates Helen’s lifetime achievements in lifelong learning by recognising other trade unionists who work to champion union learning in Scotland.
Helen Dowie Award 2024
The recipient of the 2024 Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning was John McAlinden of the Communication Workers Union (CWU). The award celebrates the achievements of Scotland’s trade union representatives, promoting lifelong learning and skills development within workplaces and across the trade union movement.
Sponsored by The Open University in Scotland, the award encapsulates an approach which believes that shopfloor, worker-led learning, delivered collectively, is a vital tool in delivering the secure highly skilled workplaces of the future.
The award was presented by First Minister Humza Yousaf at the 2024 STUC Congress in Dundee on 16th April.
Helen Dowie Award 2022
The Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Open University have recognised Mel Gorrie as a top Union Learning Rep as she received the 2022 Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning.
Mel has played a key role in organising the delivery of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) learning programme. Mel has forged new links with sister unions, learning providers and skills bodies to develop an engaging and diverse programme of learning opportunities and events for CWU members.
Taking a leading role in her workplace, she has also campaigned against period poverty, ensuring accessible and universal access to sanitary products to women across her sector.
Helen Dowie Award 2020
The recipient of the 2020 STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning is Shenaz Boyce, Unite the Union, who works in security at Glasgow Airport.
Shenaz is both a workplace rep and a union learning rep and has been instrumental in launching the workplace learning initiative within Glasgow Airport. She was also involved in the establishment of a learning agreement between the employer and union.
Helen Dowie Award 2019
The
recipient of the 14th Annual STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning was Chris
McGill, a BFAWU Union Learning Rep at Warburtons in Bellshill.
Helen Dowie Award 2018
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has
announced that the recipient of the 13th Annual STUC Helen Dowie Award for
Lifelong Learning is Lisa McGuinness, a FDA Union Learning Rep at HMRC.
RSSRelated resources
The Open University: Union Learning Partnerships The OU in Scotland and the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding on 19 April 2021, setting out a range of collaborative activity which will open up training opportunities for the 540,000+ Scottish workers who are trade unionists, the members of 42 affiliated trade unions and 19 Trades Union Councils.
