Some media reports on union input into the election are ridiculously wide of the mark (in the case of the Guardian almost doubling UNISON’s affiliated membership!):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/jun/16/jon-cruddas-harrietharman
Credit to the New Statesman for a more objective assessment of the limited influence of affiliated unions in the election: http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/06/union-members-nomination
What’s at stake for the leadership candidates today is UNISON’s supporting nomination. It matters of course - but not a lot.
The union will not be casting a collective vote in favour of our preferred candidate. We will not even cast a vote reflecting our actual share of the one third of the electoral college allocated to trade unions and socialist societies. Instead the individual votes of Labour Link levy payers for each candidate will go into a pot with those cast by members of other unions. In the case of unions such as Unite far more levy payers will be balloted than that union affiliates to the Labour Party. It wouldn’t matter if each union’s share of the one third was ring fenced according to affiliation. But in today’s democratic and transparent 'one member one vote' Labour Party it doesn’t work like that.
After the leadership caravan moves on, delegates will discuss the UNISON response to the Con Dem coalition and the onslaught against public services. The key question is how Labour Link levy payers can be galvanised into political activity. Helping to turn the tide against the Tories in local government and mobilising opposition to the slash and burn policies of the government.
This challenge was addressed by UNISON Scotland convenor Mike Kirby at last month’s UNISON NDC when successfully moving an amendment to the NEC’s political fund review report:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2010/story7.htm
The amendment called on Labour Link to improve the involvement of the 450 000 levy payers (the overwhelming majority of whom are Labour supporters) in the activities of the political fund section. For too long it has been the exclusive province of the barely 5 000 individual Labour Party members who pay the affiliated political levy (but significantly less than 500 in practice).
Mike said in moving a ‘friendly amendment’ that “a broader engagement, expanding eligibility for participation, would strengthen the ability and influence of Labour Link. There is the irony of a (non Labour Party) Link levy payer voting in a Labour Party leadership election but unable to stand as a branch Link officer. The question should be asked why the Labour link appears exclusive to Labour party members. Or should it be open to levy payers who wish to join the labour party but see the purpose of the Link, recognising that while general campaigning can create a sympathetic political environment and response, it is political parties that make laws and govern at all levels.’
He acknowledged that there will be different views on this position and genuine concerns about entryism. However the low level of engagement with labour Link shown by the review consultation needs to be addressed".
This position was endorsed by Bill King the respected ex Convenor of UNISON Cymru Wales and Labour activist who said in supporting the Scottish proposal “across the union we have many thousands who pay into the APF but who are not labour party members. They are labour supporters and form a large proportion of the core vote. Most of these fund payers will not be UNISON activists or stewards. But some of them will be both party members and activists.
We need to get those of our levy paying members who are not members of any other political party more involved. It is ridiculous that they can vote for the Labour leader but cannot have a say in policy determination. We have to find a way to open up for levy payers to participate more in determination of policy within labour link. That is what the amendment calls for and that is what is needed. The accusation that Labour Link is a secret cabal is partly fuelled by the exclusion of most levy payers from effective decision making.
And the benefits could work for all concerned. UNISON contributions to the policy making process would be more broad based. Levy payers would feel empowered by encouraging participation and we can encourage them to become activists. As well as taking our policy into the Labour Party we can recruit and organise and strengthen the Labour Link”.
Bob Oram
For more articles on the UNISON political fund go to:
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/search/label/Political%20Fund