Political Fund Ballots And The Transport And General Workers Union

EDM number 857 in 2003-04, proposed by John Mann on 17/03/2004.

That this House notes the recent ballot held by the Transport and General Workers Union in which 75 per cent. voted to keep the political fund; further notes that under legislation introduced by the Conservative government in 1984, trade unions wishing to contribute to political parties or engage in other political activities must establish a political fund; further notes that each union must ballot their members every 10 years on whether to retain this fund; recognises that all individual union members have the right to opt out of paying into a political fund should they so choose; is concerned that trade unions bear an excessive financial burden in order to fulfil their natural role of representing their members interest; and believes that in light of the Transport and General Workers' Union members recent overwhelming vote in favour of retaining the union's political fund that the Government should abolish the legislation that puts such excessive burdens on trade unions.

This motion has been signed by a total of 66 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.