|
More about UNISON's Unique Political Fund
Vote YES to keep your union's voice
 UNISON
Scotland is urging all members to defend the union's campaigning
voice by voting 'yes' to keep its unique political fund. The ballot
runs from 1-30 November.
Mike Kirby, UNISON Scottish secretary explains: "Like all
trade unions, UNISON is required in law to have a political fund
for campaigning generally and specifically to affiliate or donate
to any political party.
"UNISON is unique in giving members four options - to join
the General Political Fund for general campaigning, or the Affiliated
Fund which is connected to the Labour Party, or contribute to
both, or to opt out of the fund."
What's political?
The best way to define this is to list the kind of campaigns that the union could not have mounted without a political fund.
- promoting and defending public services through Scotland's
Public Works campaign
- lobbying and campaigning against outsourcing and privatisation, including the victory in Edinburgh
- campaigning for fairer pay through the Worth It campaign
- fighting racism and discrimination, including our successful fight against the BNP
- defending pensions
- improving employment rights, including paid holidays, rights for agency workers - and building support to stamp out zero hours contract abuses
- getting legislation for more equality including through public sector equalities duties
- extending coverage of the Scottish Living Wage and getting this issue up the political agenda in the Scottish Parliament and in public sector agencies and the Third Sector.
- UNISON Scotland support for the People's Assembly and we have
contributed to a new campaigning guide issued by the People's
Assembly Against Austerity Scotland.
UNISON Scotland responses to consultations conducted by the Scottish Parliament are in part resourced from the Political Fund and have included:
Appointments to Public Bodies
Building Standards
Careers Service
Energy & Fuel Poverty
Environment
Equality
Ethical Standards m Finance
Freedom of Information
Health & Community Care
Housing
Justice
Lobbying
PPP/PFI
Regulation of Care.
More about UNISON's Unique Political Fund
Following a ballot of all members in 1995, UNISON uniquely decided
to have a political fund with two sections. Following a ballot
in Mrach 2005, 85% of those who voted said Yes to continue the
fund, which will allow UNISON to continue campaigning in the political
arena, including the current campaign to defend public sector
pensions.
The General Political Fund (GPF) which finances political
campaigns in the wider public arena. It is not affiliated to any
political party - is used for general campaigning, for example
the long campaign for a Scottish Parliament. A branch can access
these funds when it needs to run campaigns concerning political
decisions.
The Affiliated Political Fund (APF) or LabourLink finances our
affiliation to the Labour Party.
Members individually choose which fund to contribute to. They
can also decide to opt out of any political levy or contribute
to both funds.
Archive
Top
|
