political fund ballot 2013

Political Fund Ballot

2013

Political Fund Ballot 2013

WHY DO WE HAVE A POLITICAL FUND?

Pre 1913 - ‘political’ action unlawful•Right to strike, immunity from liability, right to vote, women's suffrage, pensions, health care …•Trade unions and the Labour Party

1913 Trade Union Act•Political campaigning with separate political fund

• Must provide ‘opt-out’ for members•Major ‘political’ victories throughout 20th CenturyNHS, pensions, the vote, universal education, H&SAWA, equal pay, maternity rights, social housing, welfare state, trade union rights, employment tribunals, minimum wage, sex and race discrimination, collective bargaining….


THATCHER’S ATTACK

Trade Union Act 1984 & TULR(C)A 1992• All members must vote every 10 years• Scope of funding broadened to include

materials and campaigning aimed at ‘persuasion’

Not repealed by Labour 1997 -2010

SO WE BALLOT AGAIN1st May – 22nd May 2013


It’s not a vote on our affiliation to the Labour Party

IT’S A VOTE TO PROTECT YOUR POLITICAL VOICECAMPAIGNING, ORGANISING, FIGHTING FOR A BETTER WORLD


WHAT DOES IT FUND?

‘Any expenditure supporting or opposing a political party’

• Direct funding for Labour (national and local)• Materials production and distribution• Campaigning for or against a political policy, direction or

manifesto of a political party• Propaganda exposing political attacks on workers• Advertising in support of or against a party / candidate• Any expenditure on voter registration

‘Persuasion’


PERSUASION

‘NALGO - High Court Ruling’ 1987

NALGO HAD NO POLITICAL FUNDRan campaign to Support Public Services ‘Make People Matter’• In election year• No mention of Labour or encouragement to vote Labour

CHALLENGE IN THE HIGH COURTRuled that the unions objective was political• Aim to persuade people to not vote Conservative• It was a political campaign and unlawful without political

fund in place


CAMPAIGNING AND ‘PERSUASION’TODAY – POLITICAL?

• Defending pensions, opposing welfare cuts and promoting growth strategies

• Protecting our National Health Service• Promoting trade union rights & freedoms• Opposing cuts to local services• Fighting privatisation and outsourcing• Opposing ‘far right’ parties EDL / BNP• ‘Informing’ about voter registration changes• Campaigning against tuition fees, youth services cuts

and unemployment …


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

•2p per day or 66p a month• Members have the right to opt-out

With 1.5 million members we have a political fighting fund the Tories want to close down


THE CAMPAIGN

First ballot for Unite•Predecessor unions have voted between 70-90% in favour•Overwhelming YES vote irrespective of individual politics of membership

THIS IS ABOUT OUR VOICE AND THE VOICE OF OUR MEMBERS BEING HEARD

IT IS VITAL THAT WE SECURE A YES VOTE!


MATERIALS

WITH BALLOT PAPER• Broadsheet (8pp)• Letter from General Secretary

GENERAL• Leaflets – Posters – Stickers - DVD• Activists Guide


WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

• Build the campaign in your workplace / allocation

• Ensure it’s on the agenda at your branch, stewards committee, RISC, NISC, Regional Committee….

• Ensure you have a supply of materials for members when the vote begins, put up posters – ‘first 7 days’

• Talk to your members and activists• It’s not a referendum on Labour or to affiliate

Unite to Labour


WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

•Highlight the issues important to your members you know we campaign on politically•Build an organising campaign; check addresses, set up a phone/email tree, get stewards responsible for a group of members, grow your membership…

•Check people have their ballot paper – if it’s not arrived by 11th May call 0800 7833856 or email [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

It’s your voice, your fund, your future

Fight to win it!

political fund ballot 2013

Documents