Labour’s traditional form of fund-raising was an example of democracy in action. It depended overwhelmingly on very modest contributions from millions of supporters, the great majority of whom were working people and pensioners.
In the constituencies, money was and still is raised from members by subscriptions, donations, raffles and functions organised by voluntary supporters. Among the affiliated organisations the individual contributions are also at a very modest level but there are millions of contributors. Much of the money is collected through trade union political funds. Opponents of Labour often speak of this money as though it gives Labour some kind of unfair and undemocratic advantage.
How wrong these critics are! The right of working men and women, members of trade unions, to collect and distribute money to influence political and economic policies affecting their welfare, their employment prospects, their pension arrangements, education, health provision and the need for international action against war has a long and worthy history. It is part of our democratic heritage.
From the earliest days of the industrial system workers sought to protect themselves and their children against cruel exploitation. One obvious way was to seek legal protection. Hence the very early agitation for control of working hours of women and children in textile factories and for safety in mines and all industrial workplaces.
This struggle for minimum legal standards in employment continues to this day. Much has still to be done, for example, to achieve equal pay for work of equal value, an issue of special concern to women. Similarly, hundreds of thousands of workers have been adversely affected in recent years by changes or threatened changes in occupational pension arrangements.
Trade unionism in the workplace coupled with political action are the keys to progress. This is why millions of trade unionists voluntarily recognise the need to contribute to the political funds of trade unions.
An important stage in the evolution of trade union political funds was centred on the struggle in the early 20th century for the payment of Members of Parliament. This demand was in the Charter in the 1840s when the early working class were seeking the right of parliamentary representation. How could working people stand for parliament and, if elected, live as an MP without financial support? Trade unions raised money to sustain MPs who were seeking to promote legislation for the protection of labour.
In 1913 a Trade Union Act was passed, following sustained agitation against restrictions imposed by legal decision, which established the right of unions to pursue certain political objects. The law has been changed from time to time and the relevant legislation now dates from 1992.
Under the law as it now stands a union must, if it wishes to ‘further political objects’ as set out in the Act, get the approval of the membership in a ballot vote. If, and only if, a majority is secured, can it then establish a political fund. This fund must be separate from the normal union funds. Any member who objects to contributing to this separate fund has the right to ‘contract out’. They must not in any way be excluded from any other right of union membership. The existing law defines what is meant by ‘the furtherance of political objects’. Any expenditure of money for these political objects must be taken from the separate political fund and not from the general funds of the union.
It will thus be seen that the law on the political funds of trade unions is not an example of privilege. It is indeed restrictive, but it imposes restrictions which the unions have accepted and surmounted by their democratic endeavour. Thus even before a political fund can come into existence in a union, there is in real life a debate about it. If the policy-making body of the union decides in favour of taking a ballot the issue is then submitted to a legally controlled ballot vote of the entire membership. If, and only if, a majority is secured can a political fund be established. If and when the fund is established any member who objects to contributing has a right to ‘contract-out’. They must not suffer any loss of rights in the union.
Trade union political contributions are an example of democratic action. They are not to be confused with or placed in the same category as big donations from wealthy aristocrats or businessmen, irrespective of the political party they favour.
Labour’s traditional form of fund-raising was an example of democracy in action. It depended overwhelmingly on very modest contributions from millions of supporters, the great majority of whom were working people and pensioners.
In the constituencies, money was and still is raised from members by subscriptions, donations, raffles and functions organised by voluntary supporters. Among the affiliated organisations the individual contributions are also at a very modest level but there are millions of contributors. Much of the money is collected through trade union political funds. Opponents of Labour often speak of this money as though it gives Labour some kind of unfair and undemocratic advantage.
How wrong these critics are! The right of working men and women, members of trade unions, to collect and distribute money to influence political and economic policies affecting their welfare, their employment prospects, their pension arrangements, education, health provision and the need for international action against war has a long and worthy history. It is part of our democratic heritage.
From the earliest days of the industrial system workers sought to protect themselves and their children against cruel exploitation. One obvious way was to seek legal protection. Hence the very early agitation for control of working hours of women and children in textile factories and for safety in mines and all industrial workplaces.
This struggle for minimum legal standards in employment continues to this day. Much has still to be done, for example, to achieve equal pay for work of equal value, an issue of special concern to women. Similarly, hundreds of thousands of workers have been adversely affected in recent years by changes or threatened changes in occupational pension arrangements.
Trade unionism in the workplace coupled with political action are the keys to progress. This is why millions of trade unionists voluntarily recognise the need to contribute to the political funds of trade unions.
An important stage in the evolution of trade union political funds was centred on the struggle in the early 20th century for the payment of Members of Parliament. This demand was in the Charter in the 1840s when the early working class were seeking the right of parliamentary representation. How could working people stand for parliament and, if elected, live as an MP without financial support? Trade unions raised money to sustain MPs who were seeking to promote legislation for the protection of labour.
In 1913 a Trade Union Act was passed, following sustained agitation against restrictions imposed by legal decision, which established the right of unions to pursue certain political objects. The law has been changed from time to time and the relevant legislation now dates from 1992.
Under the law as it now stands a union must, if it wishes to ‘further political objects’ as set out in the Act, get the approval of the membership in a ballot vote. If, and only if, a majority is secured, can it then establish a political fund. This fund must be separate from the normal union funds. Any member who objects to contributing to this separate fund has the right to ‘contract out’. They must not in any way be excluded from any other right of union membership. The existing law defines what is meant by ‘the furtherance of political objects’. Any expenditure of money for these political objects must be taken from the separate political fund and not from the general funds of the union.
It will thus be seen that the law on the political funds of trade unions is not an example of privilege. It is indeed restrictive, but it imposes restrictions which the unions have accepted and surmounted by their democratic endeavour. Thus even before a political fund can come into existence in a union, there is in real life a debate about it. If the policy-making body of the union decides in favour of taking a ballot the issue is then submitted to a legally controlled ballot vote of the entire membership. If, and only if, a majority is secured can a political fund be established. If and when the fund is established any member who objects to contributing has a right to ‘contract-out’. They must not suffer any loss of rights in the union.
Trade union political contributions are an example of democratic action. They are not to be confused with or placed in the same category as big donations from wealthy aristocrats or businessmen, irrespective of the political party they favour.