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Arena Magazine 2004 Issue 2 |
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Vote Yes to keep your voice
Many of the important victories won by Usdaw for its members have been financed by the union’s political fund.
Campaigns on keeping supermarkets shut on Christmas Day, legally enforceable minimum pay rates for workers, and new rights for learning reps are just some of the high profile success stories for Usdaw in recent years.
By law, union activity with a political content has to be paid for by a separate political fund. This fund is currently made up of 8p a week paid from each member's subscriptions. (Members can choose to opt out of the political fund, whereby all of their subs go into the main fund).
Under legislation, the union is also required to ballot its members every 10 years to seek their endorsement for the political fund.
Now, the union is launching its own internal campaign to record a resounding YES vote so it can continue to take its campaigns to the heart of government and ensure the voices of Usdaw's members are heard loud and clear.
General secretary-elect John Hannett regards the political fund as a vital part of the union's armoury to improve the working lives of its members. "Many political decisions have a direct impact on our members," he said. "That's why we need the fund to make sure we can speak up on issues like pensions, maternity rights/pay, working hours, crime and many other issues."
The last time Usdaw held the ballot, in 1994, more than 80 per cent voted in favour of keeping the fund. "Because the ballot only comes around every ten years," added John, "many of our members may take for granted that we can run campaigns on political issues, but that's only possible if the majority vote yes to keep the fund. We'll be doing all we can to get that message across."
Over the coming months the union will be issuing campaign literature and briefings to reps, activists, and officials in the build up to the ballot.
For more details on the Vote Yes campaign, contact political officer Ruth Stoney at central office on 0161 224 2804 or e-mail vote.yes@usdaw.org.uk.
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