Decisive vote to keep political fund

Call to scrap law which forces wasteful ballots

By Chris Bartter

Members have voted overwhelmingly to retain the union's political fund. 85 per cent of those who voted said Yes to the fund, which will allow UNISON to continue campaigning in the political arena, including the current campaign to defend public sector pensions.

General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "This result is a clear indication that our members want their union to speak up for them in the political arena as well as in the workplace.

"They understand that increasingly we need to make the case to politicians as well as employers."

Virtually every union obliged to hold a review ballot in the last year has secured a decisive majority to retain its political fund. These ballots are expensive and unnecessary and UNISON's NEC will now put a motion to Annual Conference to step up the union's campaign to repeal the legislation.

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary added, "We will be asking the government to repeal the Tory laws that require all unions to re-ballot members on the political fund every 10 years. Our membership has made their feelings very clear once again - whether it is campaigning for decent pensions or fighting against racism, trade union issues are political issues too."

The full Electoral Reform Society figures record that 85 per cent voted Yes on a 19.6 per cent turnout. A total of 243,827 voted to retain the fund, with 43,194 voting against.

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