UNISON POLITICAL FUND BALLOT 2005

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UNISON POLITICAL FUND BALLOT 2005
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The Legal Context

• Trade unions always involved in politics
• 1913 political objectives
• 1985 Tory ballots - all unions voted for
• Confirm member support for our political funds
  every ten years
• By law must have a political fund if wish to
  carry out political campaigning

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Our Political Funds

• General Political Fund and Labour Link
• In 2003 UNISON National Delegate Conference
  overwhelmingly reaffirmed its support for the
  Political Fund structure following a union wide
  consultation process

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General Political Fund

• Pays for campaigning at branch, regional and
  national level
• Independent of any political party
• Has an elected national committee

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Labour Link

• Affiliates to the Labour Party
• A voice in policy making, elections and links
  with both Houses of Parliament, Scottish
  Parliament and the European Parliament
• Elected UK committee and regional structures
• UNISON group of MPs MSPs

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What our political fund does

• National and local political campaigns
• better pay for public service workers
• campaigning against privatisation
• working for equal pay
• campaigning against racism and the BNP
• defending pensions

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and in Scotland

• Revitalise our Public Services
• Research campaigns against PFI
• Anti-BNP NF materials
• Legislative campaigns
• water privatisation, breastfeeding, energy,
  correctional agency, assaults on staff, smoking
• Party conferences lobbying

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How do the political funds work?

• Members can choose to join one of the political
  funds, both or neither
• Join and withdraw at any time
• A small amount of the subscription goes into
  the political fund

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What do members know about the funds?

• Research on behalf of unions facing review
  ballots showed
• Very little awareness of political funds
  Assume all money goes to the Labour Party High
  levels of support when members clear about usage
  of money

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Other unions

• Overwhelming support for the fund
• TGWU, AMICUS, GPMU and Community all won with
  between 67 and 75 of members voting YES!
• Dont be complacent there is still much work to
  be done

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Campaign Materials

• Activists guide circulated
• Leaflets and posters
• DVD
• Educational pack
• UNISON journals

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Winning a YES vote

• Talk to members
• Use the campaign materials
• Examples of what the funds have delivered
• Highlight what the funds will deliver in the
  future
• Ensure members know what will be lost
• Follow up with members to make sure they voted