Agenda item

It was moved by Councillor John Booker, seconded by Councillor Keith Davis, that this Council:-

(a)       recalls that the Labour Representation Council, formed in 1900, allowed political funds to be raised from members of the unions;

(b)       also recalls that the Trade Union Act 1913 gave Trade Unions the right to divide its subscriptions into a Social Fund and a Political Fund;

(c)        notes that the 38 affiliated Trade Unions to the Labour Party collect the political fund automatically; that all members opted in unless they "opt out", and that members do not receive any discount of their subscription fees if they "opt out", with no explanation why;

(d)       believes that nearly five million union members are unwittingly paying large amounts of money directly to the Labour Party, and further believes that this policy is undemocratic and morally bankrupt;

(e)       strongly asserts that every union member should have the choice to pay money to whichever political party they choose, or not to pay anything at all, and that these conditions should be clearly defined, so everyone understands them;

(f)        places on record that, in an attempt to balance this injustice, Trade Unions ballot their members every ten years to continue the political fund, but believes that awareness is low amongst union members and their published material, in effect, steers their members into voting yes to keep the political fund going, and that Section 72 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 is quoted, but Section 82, which relates to "opting out", is not;

(g)       believes that this issue has had a long and troubled history, and has got to change, noting that even Winston Churchill discussed this matter a hundred years ago; and

(h)       further confirms strong support to the Trade Union Movement, but believes that democracy, transparency and fairness must be the cornerstones of these organisations when it comes to the Political Levy.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Julie Dore, seconded by Councillor Mary Lea, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        believes that trade unions play a vital role in representing the interests of ordinary working people, challenging low pay, erosion of employment rights and health and safety concerns;

(b)        condemns the Government’s Trade Union Bill, and views it as an ideologically-driven attack on workers’ civil liberties that will restrict basic workers’ rights and, at worst, criminalise those campaigning for a fairer deal at work; and

(c)         believes that the economy prospers only when business and employees work together harmoniously and that the Trade Union Bill risks souring that relationship and holding back our economy.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

It  was then moved by Councillor Andrew Sangar, seconded by Councillor Ian Auckland, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        recognises the importance of reforming the way political parties are financed;

(b)        asserts that every union member should have the choice to pay money to whichever political party they choose, or not to pay anything at all, and that these conditions should be clearly defined, so everyone understands them;

(c)         believes that this must go hand in hand with reforms to cap large donations;

(d)        notes attempts by the Liberal Democrats in the previous Government to reform party funding; and

(e)        further notes that these proposals were blocked by Labour and Conservative MPs.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-