1. Why do politics? An Introduction to the Labour Party for trade unionists

2. Aim of the training
To give you the knowledge and confidence to become active in the Labour Party – in your local Party, as a representative of your union, or as a campaigner.

3. We’ll cover: Why unions ‘do politics’ Why unions do Labour politics
The importance of the link today
Your role in the Labour Party
Why we campaign

4. History
The Labour Party was formed out of trade union movement to give working people their own collective political voice
The link from the workplace to the Party is what makes it unique to this day
Shared values, achieving more by working together than we can do alone
Trade Unions are affiliates to the Labour Party and unions have a relationship with the Party at every level (more on this next slide)
Working together we have achieved great things – NHS (1948), Equal Pay Act (1970), right to paid holiday (1998), Equality Act (2010)
Link is more important than ever – TU ACT, rise of precarious work, stagnating wages.

5. The Union-Party link National
The National TULO office (2 of us!) is here to support you in your role
National TULO Committee (Party leader and GS’s), TU delegates at Annual Conference, NEC and on the National Policy Forum.
Regional
Regional TULO Committees are made up of representatives of the affiliated unions and the Party in the English regions, and in Scotland and Wales.
TU places on regional Party structures like Regional Boards
Local
Branches of affiliated unions can affiliate to CLPs where they have members living in the constituency. They can then get involved in the CLP’s decision-making.
CLP TULO Reps, along with other CLP Officers, are responsible for involving trade unions and union members in the Party’s structures and campaigns locally.

6. TULO - unionstogether
TULO stands for the National Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation
Separate from the party but have a ‘hand in glove’ relationship
We act as the collective voice of the affiliated trade unions within the party to make sure that Labour speaks for working people & their families
We campaign within the union movement for Labour under unionstogether – because we believe that only Labour will govern in the interests of working people

7. BFAWU (Bakers’ Union) Young People’s Voter Registration
BFAWU linked industrial and political issues
£10 an hour minimum wage pledge
CLP links
Fundraising
Organising in fast food restaurants around 2017 gen election - linking industrial and political issues
Want £10 an hour minimum wage? Then you need to register to vote and vote Labour!
Links with CLPs across Nottingham/Yorkshire/Cambridge
Joint fundraising – Union speakers can be a draw and benefits of fundraisers can be shared

8. Case Study - UNISON Ethical Care Charter
UNISON delegates in Southwark raised the issues of care quality, low pay, job insecurity and rushed client visits with Labour councillors at Party meetings.
Southwark UNISON made a request that council consider adopting Ethical Care Charter.
The Ethical Care Charter adopted by Southwark Council and now it’s been adopted 30 other councils in England, Wales and Scotland. 
Mutual benefit for Labour council and UNISON members to improve care, provide better value for the council and improve t&cs of care workers.
Southwark officers to work collaboratively with service users, carers, families and UNISON to develop best practice, inform future commissioning of services and contractual requirements.

9. Doorstep to picket line: solidarity is a two-way street

10. How the Labour Party Works
• Branch Labour Party (BLP) • Constituency Labour Party (CLP) • Executive Committee (EC) • Regions / Nations • National Executive Committee (NEC) • Party Conference

11. Branches
A branch can refer to two things. A Labour Party branch refers to a Labour Party unit, usually organised on the basis of local authority ward boundaries. A branch can also refer to an affiliate branch. A union that is affiliated nationally may choose to affiliate one of their own branches to a local Labour Party. They will then be able to send delegates to the CLP’s meetings. Your local Party branch is your first point of contact as a member. In most CLPs, branches meet regularly to discuss campaigning, policy and other key issues.

12. CLP
CLP means Constituency Labour Party. Meetings of local parties are organised on the basis of local Parliamentary (or Scottish Parliamentary) Constituency boundaries. CLPs are made up of multiple Party branches, and often have union branches affiliated too. CLPs are structured either as ‘All Member Meetings’ or as ‘GCs’ (General Committee – these are meetings made up of delegates elected from Party and affiliated branches). Unions support the GC delegate structure, as it allows for the collective voice of the unions to be represented.

13. Regions & Nations
Each region and Nation has its own Executive Committee. There are Regional Conferences and Scottish and Welsh Labour Party Conferences. Each region and Nation also has a TULO Committee, bringing together the Party and the unions to discuss key issues.

14. Regional Executive Committees
The structure of Regional Executive Committees is currently under review, but each one brings together reps elected by Party members, the trade unions, and other sections of the Party (eg MPs, Councillors, socialist societies).

15. NEC
The NEC is the party’s National Executive Committee and it is made up of representatives from across the Labour Party, including:
• Leader • Deputy Leader • Treasurer • Frontbench • Welsh Labour • Scottish Labour • EPLP Leader • Young Labour • BAME Labour • Trade Unions • CLPs • Socialist Societies • Councillors • PLP/EPLP

16. Getting more involved with your CLP
You can affiliate your union branch to your CLP, and if you have a delegate structure you can send delegates to CLP meetings to be part of the decision-making process.
Once you are a delegate, you can get union issues on the agenda and submit motions on priority issues.
If you have an ‘All Member Meeting’ structure you can go to the meetings straight away as a Party member, and as an individual member you can put forward key issues through your Party branch or direct to the All Member Meeting.
You can stand to become a CLP TULO Officer and be the local link between unions and the Party – TULO has a handbook to help you!
You can stand to become another CLP Officer – eg Chair, Secretary, Policy Officer. Role profiles can be found on the ‘members area’ of the Labour Party website.
Campaign with your local Party, the more the merrier, and work to get the Party and the unions campaigning together.

17. Useful links info@unionstogether.org.uk www.twitter.com/unionstogether
List of affiliated unions and national contacts