Trade union political levy

AJS321

Hi,

I've recently joined the union at work and I'm wondering how the system works with regard to the political levy. Is it something you have to opt out of or opt in to? I know that it used to be the case the you had to opt out of it, and I understand there's recently been some major changes to trade union law with the Trade Unions Act 2016, but I'm not sure if political levy's are affected by this law. The Gov.UK website only talks about the act making changes to the law regarding strike ballots.

My union welcome pack does mention them having a political levy and their most recent newsletter lists some of the Labour MP's the union sponsors, but neither mention opting in or out.

I've thought about it and I've decided I don't want to pay the political levy as I'm not a particularly political person and I don't really want to be paying Jeremy Corbyn's mates wages.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

ohreally

You can opt out, have a read in the membership form as there will have been an option for opt out (tick box).

The rule book should also give information.

antrobus

I believe that you can opt out of the levy. Contact your union.

AJS321

I've checked my application form and there was no box to tick to opt out of the political levy. I've just had a look at the small print at the bottom of the page and it mentions a 'fund for payments in furtherance of politics objectives' and how you automatically contribute as a member of the union. It says I have to write to the union branch office to obtain an exemption certificate if I want to opt out.

It looks like a very long winded process when they could have just put a tick box on the application form.

Silvertabby

I was in a Union in the 1970s, when membership was compulsory. Due to 'closed shop' rules, Leyland Motors weren't allowed to employ non-union staff - so you had to toe the party line otherwise you'd be expelled and therefore sacked.

I can't remember if there was a political levy, but I do remember the shop steward demanding a 'voluntary' contribution to the Labour party funds over and above whatever we had to pay per week.

I told him to shove it, but assured him that it wasn't because I was 'tight' as I was going to donate 5 times the amount he had demanded - but to the Tory party funds.

I was only there for 6 months before I achieved my aim and got myself expelled (ha ha !) . Being sacked wasn't a problem as I had only been biding time before joining the Armed Forces - but colleagues who couldn't afford to lose their jobs had to abide by the union dictatorship because they couldn't afford to be sacked.

ohreally

AJS321 wrote: »

It says I have to write to the union branch office to obtain an exemption certificate if I want to opt out.

Call the office and confirm the conversation by email.

AJS321

Silvertabby wrote: »

I was in a Union in the 1970s, when membership was compulsory. Due to 'closed shop' rules, Leyland Motors weren't allowed to employ non-union staff - so you had to toe the party line otherwise you'd be expelled and therefore sacked.

I can't remember if there was a political levy, but I do remember the shop steward demanding a 'voluntary' contribution to the Labour party funds over and above whatever we had to pay per week.

I told him to shove it, but assured him that it wasn't because I was 'tight' as I was going to donate 5 times the amount he had demanded - but to the Tory party funds.

I was only there for 6 months before I achieved my aim and got myself expelled (ha ha !) . Being sacked wasn't a problem as I had only been biding time before joining the Armed Forces - but colleagues who couldn't afford to lose their jobs had to abide by the union dictatorship because they couldn't afford to be sacked.

I once knew someone who worked as a contractor at Longbridge in the late 70's and heard stories of about how he wasn't allowed through the factory gates without showing a union card and how if you finished a job in less time than was allocated (he did maintenance work on machinery during the summer shut down), you'd still be paid to come in and sit in an office all day doing nothing because if the union man heard that people were going over and above the productivity targets they'd call a strike.

Andy_L

AJS321 wrote: »

I've checked my application form and there was no box to tick to opt out of the political levy. I've just had a look at the small print at the bottom of the page and it mentions a 'fund for payments in furtherance of politics objectives' and how you automatically contribute as a member of the union. It says I have to write to the union branch office to obtain an exemption certificate if I want to opt out.

It looks like a very long winded process when they could have just put a tick box on the application form.

Which TU is it?

There are some TUs that have a political levey but do not make donations to the Lqbour party. They have the levy because legislation requires TUs that undertake "political activity" have to have an optional political levy. However the definition of political activity is so vague that it could include lobbying MPs for a change in the Law/Governemnt policy not just funding Labour MPs

Silvertabby

I once knew someone who worked as a contractor at Longbridge in the late 70's and heard stories of about how he wasn't allowed through the factory gates without showing a union card and how if you finished a job in less time than was allocated (he did maintenance work on machinery during the summer shut down), you'd still be paid to come in and sit in an office all day doing nothing because if the union man heard that people were going over and above the productivity targets they'd call a strike. Posted by AJS321

Apart from the spats with the shop steward, when he came to collect the weekly fees, I had 2 'official warnings' from our department union rep. Once was for going to the loo in my lunchtime ('you go to the loo in bosses time, not your own time') and the other was for NOT taking any time off sick ('you're entitled to 2 days a month sick, and the union rules are that you've got to take them'). Is it any wonder British Leyland was toast.

sangie595

The political levy is not a party political levy. Yes, a trade union may affiliate to the Labour Party - but only a small portion of the levy would go towards that. The political levy enables the union to participate in political campaigns and activities. Such as protecting the NHS and the people who work in it; campaigning against anti union laws; for free employment tribunals; and a lot of other things that you will want. If everyone opts out of the political levy, you do not starve the Labour Party of funds. What you do is prevent your union from protecting you or campaigning on things that are important to you, most of which are what the people who fund the Conservative Party want to happen to reduce your rights!