Proportional representation


The giant UNISON public services union has become the latest trade union to adopt a policy in favour of proportional representation (PR) for general elections.


Delegates at its annual conference in June agreed that the current first past the post voting system had “created a toxic environment by repeatedly returning extreme governments against the wishes of most voters”. The conference passed a motion to reject it and to support the introduction of a form of proportional representation.


UNISON joins general union Unite, rail unions ASLEF and TSSA, the CWU communications union and the Musicians Union in adopting such a policy. 


The UNISON motion also called for the union’s national executive to campaign for PR within the wider trade union and labour movement.”