Choice, Transparency & Union Political Funds

#lablink13 A report by the Unlock Democracy pressure group has held up the UNISON political fund - which provides members with the the option to be a member of a General Political Fund, a Labour Affiliated Political Fund, both or none at all, as a model example of transparency:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9580715/Unions-fail-to-inform-members-they-can-opt-out-of-Labour-funding.html

However, the report's criticism of other union's (Government regulated) political fund arrangements is without substance. The Unite website promotes trade union affiliation to the Labour Party as a means of protecting the party from the 'two political 'extremes' of the ultra-New Labour 'Islington Set' and the hard-left of the trade union movement'
http://www.unitetheunion.org/default.aspx?page=1194

And if it's so difficult to opt out of Unite's affiliate political fund why have a staggering 363,649 done so (compared to 14,143 opt outs in UNISON) according to the Certification Officer's latest annual report?
http://www.certoffice.org/CertificationOfficer/files/1c/1c9b8633-3611-4a3c-b55e-23fad475d2e3.pdf

First published by UNISONActive on 3 October 2012