Comments on: United in Support of Labour?

By: Sir Henry Morgan

Sir Henry Morgan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:13:20 +0000

Anna

I’ve nicked this entire article and posted it on our blog in Wigan … because here in Wigan the big enemy is the Labour party.

Hope you don’t mind. If you do, then just say so and I’ll remove it.

Otherwise … thanks very much. Useful.

http://wiganpatriot.blogspot.com/2010/03/unite-union-few-facts.html

By: davidc

davidc — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:26:11 +0000

my experience of being a union (unison) member was that the administration at branch and hq levels was so poor that no one knew if the individual was contracted in or out of paying the levy

i understand that some unions have a rule that allows a block contribution to be made to labour party funds in addition to the the political levy in which case the decision to contract out is effectively taken away from the individual member unless they can get the rule changed.

By: Biffo

Biffo — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:55:09 +0000

I used to be a Unite member & as the place I worked wasn’t a closed shop it was relatively easy to op out of the levy. Like Vimes I too enjoyed the feeling of being ‘the enemy within’. However, when they began harassing all members to vote Labour & refused any discussion on the subject – certainly my emails on the subject were ignored – I left altogether.

By: John Pickworth

John Pickworth — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:55:14 +0000

Opting out of the political levy:

I attempted this not long after Government of the day introduced the measure. I was working for 6 months for a plastics manufacturer and decided to assert my right to not fund the Welsh Windbag. At 6am the following morning I was literally pinned to the wall by a very angry Shop Steward and two of her equally large muscled sisters — choose your favourite scene from Cell Block ‘H’ and you’d get the idea — where upon they proceeded to persuade me how ‘needy’ the Labour Party were for my small contributions to their funds.

That single experience has forever cemented the idea that the Labour movement are nothing more than thugs, open, if necessary, to using violence to extort money. It may be a harsh judgement but its one that I learnt in the most painful way possible… and its not an experience I’ve forgotten (nor forgiven) over the years.

By: Saul

Saul — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:41:43 +0000

They don’t care who is in charge, the general consensus is, whatever!

By: Saul

Saul — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:37:54 +0000

You still don’t get it, they just don’t care anymore.

By: First Class posts on Wednesday | Letters From A Tory

First Class posts on Wednesday | Letters From A Tory — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:36:35 +0000

[...] Anna Raccoon learns that not everyone in Unite is united behind [...]

By: jailhouselawyer

jailhouselawyer — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:38:55 +0000

Good coverage on the BBC 1 Six O’ Clock News.

By: Vimes

Vimes — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:13:08 +0000

Oops – that should, of course, say “opt out”.

By: Vimes

Vimes — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:11:04 +0000

I can’t speak for Unite, but, if you want to opt of my union’s political fund, all you have to do is tick the appropriate box on the application form – still, it’s quite fun being “the enemy within” again. It fairly takes you back, so it does – nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

By: PJH

PJH — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:06:49 +0000

THis is a ridiculous line of attack. Look, in a democracy individuals are entitled to join and form organisations.

Really? I thought they were unofficial closed shops whereby if you didn’t join the union, in addition to missing out on an opportunity to fund the Labour party, you also gave up any right to representation should your employer shaft you.

If that’s not the case, it’s certainly the impression given out. Perhaps Unite is spending too much on Labour’s PR and not enough on their own?

By: Anna Raccoon

Anna Raccoon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:05:37 +0000

Rueben,

See my comment above yours as to how difficult it is to opt out of the political levy – why not an ‘opt in’ levy for those who feel inclined to support politicians?
An opt out levy, when you have to face a militant shop steward and get him to organise your ‘alternative donation’ is hardly a democratic structure to facilitate this…….

By: Bugger (the Panda)

Bugger (the Panda) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:58:33 +0000

Unite is as democratic as the Parliamentary side of my arse.

Wheelan is an out and out thug.

By: Specky

Specky — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:56:39 +0000

When I was a member of the AUEW in the 70′s you could tick a box if you wished to donate to ,gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ******god dammmit *******grrrrrrrrrr .
Labour.

By: Reuben

Reuben — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:43:54 +0000

THis is a ridiculous line of attack. Look, in a democracy individuals are entitled to join and form organisations. Those organisations then take democratic decisionss on behalf of their membership. If people dislike the decisions they are entitled to leave or to change them. Unite has democratic structures to facilitate this.

By: Anna Raccoon

Anna Raccoon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:32:48 +0000

Richard B,
I deliberately used the words ‘expected to pay’ becasue you are right, Mrs T did insist on an opt out – however, I offer you this comment from ‘anonymous’ on the Daily Referendum site to explain just how difficult it is to do so…..

Anonymous. Opt out of the political levy? Have you ever TRIED? I have, and believe me, it wasn’t easy! First thing you are up against is a disapproving & polically biased shop steward ( sorry, I mean Union Representative). It took me months to sort out – I rather think that there was some deliberate heel dragging, and I had to pay equivalent amount to a (Union) charity. I was never actually sure that my money went to the charity, and was glad to leave that job!

By: My Thoughts UK

My Thoughts UK — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:28:58 +0000

This is what the general public should be told, to show only a minority of Unite Union members support Labour.

The Blogoshere is so much more informative than the mainstream media.

By: Richard B

Richard B — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:28:26 +0000

Excellent post, Anna. I thought that Mrs T had ended the ‘political levy’ (or at least allowed members to opt out) back in the early 80s? Or have they found another way of funding their mendacious and dishonourable political wing?

By: Uncle Marvo

Uncle Marvo — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:25:34 +0000

I can answer that question. Me, me, please Miss.

Oh. Everybody already knows why.

Dammit.

By: Cato

Cato — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:22:50 +0000

Why oh why isn’t someone from the Conservatives giving Labour some stick about Lord Paul?