A CAMPAIGN to save a “vital” trade union centre from facing closure has been successful following a breakthrough in negotiations.

The Glasgow Trade Union Education Centre (TUEC) was initially at risk of being shut down in May, following a series of cuts at City of Glasgow College which were fuelled by a wider lack of funding in the further education sector.

The centre – which has been open for 32 years and is funded partially by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) – provides training for union representatives and members from across Scotland.

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College management deemed the centre to be no longer financially viable, claiming it was costing upwards of £100,000 a year to run.

We previously reported on a campaign launched to save the TUEC, which resulted in an open letter being sent to the First Minister.

The letter was signed by academics, politicians, trade unionists and members of the public, including SNP trade union group national secretary Simon Barrow who called the move “a frontal attack on working class education across Scotland”.

In July, the STUC and staff at the centre submitted an alternative proposal to college management which showed “how the centre could be sustained in the long term”.

Now, following negotiations which took place last week, a new year-long partnership agreement has been signed.

A spokesperson for the Save the Glasgow Trade Union Education Centre campaign said: “Common sense has prevailed. We know there is demand for courses at the centre and in recent weeks have had many inquiries from a range of trade unions seeking places on courses.

“We now need to ensure that all of these inquiries result in students being recruited and that we can now rebuild the centre so it becomes the 'go to' place for all trade union education in Scotland.

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“With the prospect of the long running national college lecturers dispute being settled, we have the opportunity to get back to what we do best; educating the next generation of shop stewards, union reps and members whose work is vital in delivering an economy based on ‘fair work’, where workers are respected and valued by employers.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported our successful campaign.”

City of Glasgow College principal Dr Paul Little said: “I'm really pleased that this new partnership agreement means that this specialist education provision can continue at our college, and I am heartened by the additional resource and the buy in of the trade union movement.”