1. The UNISON Political Fund Ballot

2. What is the political fund?
UNISON’s political fund has two components:
The Affiliated Political Fund (APF), which links members who pay it to the Labour Party and enables them to take part in how it chooses its leaders and makes decisions
The General Political Fund (GPF), which supports non party specific campaigns, including our work to combat the far right
Both parts of the fund give UNISON a political voice and enable members to raise concerns with politicians about public services, working life and other important citizenship issues

3. Members in the driving seat
Each section of the political fund is overseen by a committee made of up elected members
The Labour Link Committee includes members of UNISON’s governing National Executive Council (NEC) plus one representative from each region
The General Political Fund Committee is made up of members from the NEC. It receives bids to support political campaign activity from across the union. Lay members who pay into the GPF have a role in making decisions about bids from their regions

4. Why is UNISON holding a political fund ballot?
The law requires all trade unions to:
hold a ballot of members before establishing a political fund
ask members every ten years whether they want to retain the fund.

5. When is UNISON holding its political fund ballot?
27 October – 5 November: ballot papers dispatched with the Autumn edition of U Magazine
1-30 November: the ballot period
Early December 2014: results declared and appropriate actions taken to inform members

6. Will UNISON be campaigning to retain the political fund?
Yes. The government would rather we had no collective voice. Our track record shows why…

7. Over the last 10 years we have successfully used our political fund to campaign for:
Better protections of terms and conditions including for outsourced workers (Warwick Agreement 2004)
Equalities legislation, making it a duty of the public services to promote equality in respect of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation (Equalities Act 2010)

8. Over the last 10 years we have successfully used our political fund to campaign for:
An extension of paid holidays for all workers (Warwick Agreement)
Introduction of regulations improving terms and conditions for agency workers on day one of a job and comparable terms to permanent staff after 12 week qualifying period (Agency Workers Directive 2010)
A halt to coalition plans to break up national pay agreements in the NHS (2012)
Successful campaigns against privatisation (e.g. Edinburgh and George Eliot hospital )

9. Over the last 10 years we have successfully used our political fund to campaign for:
Defence of public service pensions (2006 and 2011)
Progress on equal pay (Equality Bill 2009)
Flexible working, including family friendly measures to enable those with caring responsibilities to better manage their work and life responsibilities (2006)
Right to expel and exclude racists from trade unions (2004)
Schools Support Staff Negotiating Body established with responsibility for devising a scheme for pay and conditions for teaching assistants, caretakers and office workers in our schools (introduced in 2010 – then scrapped by coalition)

10. Over the last 10 years we have successfully used our political fund to campaign for:
An end to the divisive politics of the far right
Hope Not Hate – from the defeat of the BNP to efforts to highlight the corrosive effect of UKIP

11. UK wide?
The ballot covers Great Britain Northern Ireland not included But Scotland and Wales are – where we also have a track record of using the fund effectively, especially since devolution

12. Scotland
Debate on the Constitution, Fairer Scotland publications and membership engagement events. Enabled us to engage members in the constitutional debate and promote UNISON’s position with the political parties and the wider public.
Police Staffs – ‘We are Front Line’ campaign. Funding for campaign materials to promote police civilianisation, including an updated research report and parliamentary events.
Public sector reform – ‘The Front Line Starts Here’. Research paper written with APSE on the role of ‘back office’ functions in freeing up operational staff.

13. Scotland
Edinburgh ABM  (Alternative Business Model)– support from APSE for major and successful anti-privatisation campaign.
Fund the work of two policy commissions on social care and health inequalities, shaping the policy programme for the next election
Publishing a manifesto (with support of other affiliated unions) at the start of the Scottish Policy Forum process aimed at setting a policy framework compatible with UNISON positions.

14. Wales
Successful referendum campaign for more effective law making powers for Wales
NHS 65 events in the Welsh Government
Maintenance of commitment to publically delivered services – no privatisation in the NHS in Wales, EMA, lower tuition fees, free prescriptions, free school breakfasts.
Welsh Labour festival which is now in its’ third year – bringing new people into party activity

15. How can I do my bit to help retain the political fund?
Make sure your branch members know about the ballot
Highlight to all members the importance of retaining the political fund
Materials available from communications and Learning and Organising Services, including this PowerPoint