In September 2024, as required by law, all CWU members will be asked to vote for the right to keep the union’s Political Fund. The ballot will open on 24^th September and closes on the 15^th October.

 

So, what is the Political Fund and why is it crucial you vote yes? Here we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions and answers to help.

 

So why are we having a ballot?

 

Under anti-trade union legislation introduced by the Conservative Government in 1984, unions not only have to ballot their members to set up a Political Fund, but also vote every ten years on whether to keep it.

 

This will be the fifth time we have balloted our members on the continuation of the fund – 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014, all received overwhelming endorsement by the membership.

 

What is the Political Fund?

 

The law says that unions must have a separate Political Fund to spend on political campaigning.

 

Recent CWU campaigns that have relied heavily on the union’s Political Fund:

 

• New Deal for Workers (which will deliver new protections for millions of workers)
• Repealing the Anti Trade Union Laws that would have sacked TU members in some industries for taking strike action.
• Royal Mail takeover
• Challenging the regulator OFCOM for our Telecom and Postal members
• The future of the Post Office Network
• Equal treatment for agency workers
• Real Living Wage
• Dangerous Dog Act
• Hillsborough Law Now – access for justice
• Remote sourcing of contact center jobs
• The Right to Food campaign
• Shrewsbury 24 campaign
• Campaigns against all forms of Domestic violence

 

If the CWU is to continue campaigning on these and other issues in the future, retaining the union’s Political Fund will be crucial.  More general uses could include an advertising campaign in support of the universal service, lobbying for better legal rights and employment rights for workers or holding a rally to improve health and safety protection.  Members choose whether or not to contribute through a ‘Political Levy’ that forms part of their current subscriptions.

 

Who decides how the Political Fund is spent?

 

The elected National Executive Council controls how the money is spent.  The Executive is accountable to members through Conference and ensures that, when money is spent, a clear benefit can be seen for CWU members.  Expenditure is reported annually.

 

But doesn’t all the money go to the Labour Party?

 

No. The CWU spends some of its Political Fund to affiliate to the Labour party, so we can influence policy like the New Deal for Workers, but the Political Fund is not just about affiliation to any political party. It enables the union to take its industrial campaigns into the political arena to lobby the government on the proposed takeover of Royal Mail, the extension of fair pay agreements through sectoral collective bargaining, reform of the universal service, strengthen rights in the workplace, support grassroots community groups, to improve our public services nationally and locally, which we and our families all rely on, and yes, against the decision to introduce means testing for the Winter Fuel Allowance without considering alternative choices.

 

So, let’s be clear, the ballot is not about affiliation to the Labour Party – members are just voting on the right to keep a political fund to ensure the voice of members is heard by policymakers and to maintain political influence.

 

Shouldn’t the CWU concentrate on defending members’ rights at work?

 

That’s exactly what the union does – Eight years ago the CWU launched the New Deal for Workers campaign that will deliver new protections for millions of workers by introducing major legislation that will:

• get rid of fire and rehire and exploitative zero hour contacts
• reduce the decline in collective bargaining
• remove discriminatory age bans in the minimum wage
• deliver workers’ rights from day one (such as unfair dismissal)
• review health and safety legislation making them fit for now and the future
• put mental health on par with physical health in our workplaces
• ensure the “right to switch off” so working from home does not become 24/7
• create new rights to protect workers from remote surveillance
• deliver stronger family friendly rights
• strengthen trade unions right of entry to workplaces to organise and represent their members
• simplify the process of union recognition and strengthen the law to enforce workplace rights.

 

The decisions and laws made by politicians affect members’ interests at work.  Members also rely on decent public services and a healthy economy for their livelihood. The CWU must be able to lobby MPs and campaign in parliament. We cannot allow businesses and major institutions to be the only ones to have a voice in politics.

 

In the Southwest we work with local councils and politicians like the Metro Mayor Dan Norris in protecting our member’s rights in workplaces across the region. With power increasingly moving away from Westminster through devolution this will become more and more important. This kind of influence would not be possible without a political fund.

 

If I vote Yes, does it mean I have to pay more?

 

No. In fact, every member has the right to opt out of paying into the Political Fund whenever they want.  A Yes vote just means that the CWU keeps its Political Fund, so you keep your right to choose.

 

Who can vote in this ballot?

 

Excluding ‘overseas’ members from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, all members of the union can vote in the ballot, whether they pay the political levy or not.

 

Is it a secret ballot?

 

Yes, completely secret.

So how do I vote?

 

On the 24^th September, the ballot papers will be sent to your home unless you ask for it to be sent to another address. You should read the ballot paper and vote Yes if you agree to keep the CWU’s Political Fund.  It must be posted back to the Independent Scrutineer.  A pre-paid return envelope will be included with the ballot paper.

 

What if my ballot paper doesn’t arrive?

 

If you have not received a ballot paper two weeks before the close of the ballot on the 15th Oct, contact your branch secretary.  Have your membership details to hand.

 

What happens if the CWU loses the ballot?

 

As you can see, many of our industrial issues are intertwined with Politics, but that is only half the story, and we need to be able to influence political outcomes to further the aims and objectives of our membership.

 

If the union loses the ballot, the CWU would lose the ability to campaign effectively on a range of issues like better pensions, better public services and better health and safety laws, because the law defines most ordinary campaigns as having a ’political purpose’.

 

A Yes vote keeps your right to choose whether or not to contribute to the Political Fund.

 

That’s why it’s so important the members do vote and that they vote yes. A Political Fund is vital to defend the rights the union has already won and essential to ensure that the CWU can continue to campaign for new rights for members in the future.

 

So, vote yes to keep your political voice.

No Political Fund = No Political Voice

 

Vote Yes X

 

 

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact our branch political officer Joshua Barclay either by mobile or email.

 

Mobile: 07708 475535

 

Email: joshcwu@gwestern.co.uk