Political Fund Ballots And The Bakers Union

EDM number 1598 in 2003-04, proposed by John Mann on 07/09/2004.

That this House notes that the recent ballot held by the Bakers Union in which 96 per cent. voted to keep the political fund; further notes that under legislation introduced by the Conservative Government in 1984, trade unions wishing to contribute to political parties or engage in other political activities must establish a political fund; further notes that each union must ballot its members every 10 years on whether to retain this fund; recognises that all individual union members have the right to opt out of paying into a political fund should they so choose; is concerned that trade unions bear an excessive financial burden in order to fulfil their natural role of representing their members' interest; and believes that in light of the Bakers Union members' recent overwhelming vote in favour of retaining the union's political fund that the Government should abolish the legislation that puts such excessive burdens on trade unions.

This motion has been signed by a total of 38 MPs.