Text on Unison Affiliated Political Fund

Submitted by AWL on 11 February, 2004 - 2:48

The text below is offered for use by Unison members drafting motions for their union's National Delegate Conference on the question of the union's Affiliated Political Fund.
Model Motion to National Delegate Conference

Conference notes the decision of last year's Conference on the political funds debate and in particular that section which called on the NEC to consult with the National Affiliated Political Committee (NAPC) with a view to bringing forward proposed measures, including any necessary changes to UNISON rules, to ensure that the terms of its delegation of responsibility for the APF to the NAPC under Rule J.8.2 include:

a) that there is an appropriate degree of accountability between the APF and the union's structures at branch, regional and national levels, consistent with the need to preserve the APF's administrative separation and control by levy payers; and

b) that the structures of the APF embody the member-led principles used in the rest of UNISON's structure, by giving primacy and accountability to bodies, forums, based on delegations from branches

Conference notes with dismay the apparent lack of discussion between the Labour-Link Committee and the NEC regarding changes to the democratic structure of the Affiliated Political Fun and the consequent lack of proposed rule changes altering the internal structure of the APF decision-making processes.

Conference further notes with concern the considerable confusion and delay over implementing the devolution of funding decisions in the General Political Fund to regions as recommended in last year's Political Fund Review.

Conference reaffirms our view that our union's political funds exist to promote UNISON's positions on political matters of importance to our members.

Conference instructs the NEC to consult with the Labour Link Committee and the General Political Fund Committee on how best to frame proposals for rule changes to come to next year's National Delegate Conference. Conference believes these rule changes should embody the following priniciples:

1) That all political fund levy payers should have equal and full rights of access to the internal democratic structures of their political fund, regardless of personal decisions to join or not join organisations outside of the union.

2)that decisions of funding for local initiatives should be made at a branch or regional level, subject to the initiatives being in line with the nationally agreed policies of the union.

3) That representatives holding office in bodies outside of the union on behalf of the union's political funds have a responsibility to vote in line with and advocate UNISON's aims, objectives and policies. That their actions should be fully reported back to the members of the relevant political fund in order that they can be held to account by the membership of the political fund.

4)That the union should only give support to candidates in external elections who similarly support UNISON's aims, objectives and core policies.

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