Healthy financial glow to union political pots

Union political funds have received a substantial boost in income in the latest year reported, according to the 2013-14 annual report of the union watchdog, the certification officer.

The total income of the 26 union political funds was £24.1 million — up £2.2 million on the income of the 28 funds existing in the previous year.

The funds spent slightly less than the year before, with the result that the end-of-year funds’ total increased by a third — from £18.73 million to £25.03 million.

The number of members contributing to the political funds has also risen — although most of this is down to one union, public services union UNISON, which has changed the way it reports members of its general political fund.

The top three political fund spenders were UNISON with £5.42 million spent, the general union Unite with £3.76 million and the GMB general union £2.7 million.

Meanwhile, GMB members last month voted by 94.4% in in favour of retaining their political fund. It is fourth time members have voted for a political fund in the 10-yearly ballot unions must hold by law.

In July, members of rail drivers’ union ASLEF voted by 80.5% to keep their fund.

www.certoffice.org/CertificationOfficer/files/f1/f155b22f-32c4-4615-b72f-5e824a127cba.pdf

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/gmb-members-say-yes-to-political-fund

www.aslef.org.uk/information/100012/140861/highest_turnout_confirms_aslef_political_fund/