Labour Research April 2004

Union news

T&G retains fund

Members of the T&G transport union have voted with by 75% to 25% to retain their political fund. Turnout was 19.5%.

General secretary Tony Woodley said the vote was "a sound endorsement of the political campaigning I see as crucial to our existence."

However, members of the National Union of Journalists have voted by 53% to 47% against establishing a political fund. The union leadership's campaign to set up a fund for the first time was countered by strong opposition from members in high-profile television jobs.

NUJ president George Macintyre said the union would "continue to campaign politically on issues that matter to members, and will hope not to face any legal challenge".