Branch affiliations to the Labour Party

Usdaw is keen for as many of our branches as possible to ‘affiliate’ to local Labour Parties.

Why affiliate?

By affiliating to local Labour Parties, Usdaw branches can make our members' views known to the local Party, including Labour councillors and MPs. Branches will receive details of what the local Party is doing - political and social events and campaigns. We can also:

• Take part in the ballot to decide whether a Labour MP should stand for Parliament again.

• Take part in the shortlisting meeting for the candidate for the next General Election.

• Participate in local political campaigns.

• Encourage local Parties and politicians to support Usdaw campaigns.

So it's obviously very important.

How do we affiliate?

By passing a resolution at a branch meeting. A branch can affiliate to any constituency where members of that branch live. It is helpful to affiliate to several constituency Labour Parties, and many branches do this. The branch secretary then completes Form AY (available to download below) and returns it to the Political Officer at Central Office. Central Office pays the affiliation fee.

Usdaw Delegates

Affiliation to the local Labour Party is not fully effective unless it is backed up by appointing delegates, elected by the Usdaw branch, to the Constituency Labour Party.

Delegates must have had one year's membership of Usdaw, pay the political levy, be an individual member of the Labour Party and live in the constituency. A union branch can usually appoint either one or two delegates for every 100 Usdaw members living in the constituency, up to a maximum of five delegates. Delegates receive details and can attend the 'General Committee' - the monthly meeting which governs the Labour Party in that constituency. But they don't have to do anything!

By becoming involved in the local Labour Party you can make sure that the Party understands Usdaw issues and supports our campaigns. However, even if you can't find delegates - do still affiliate.

If you have any questions, contact Ruth Stoney, the union's Political Officer.

You can download the form Application for Constituency Labour Party Affliation Fees from the resource library.

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