LTB 335/24 – CWU SUCCESS IN POLITICAL FUND BALLOT
No. 335/24
16th October 2024
TO: ALL BRANCHES
Dear Colleagues,
CWU SUCCESS IN POLITICAL FUND BALLOT
As branches will be aware, the CWU has successfully balloted our members to continue the CWU’s political fund, with 79.7% of members voting YES, on a 16.1% turnout.
This positive result for the union means that the CWU can continue to be a leading campaigner in the wider labour movement and play a significant role in shaping the political agenda of the new Labour government
Since the last ballot in 2014, the landscape of UK politics has been irrevocably shaped by a number of events. Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the collapse of the Tory Government, the cost-of-living crisis and four general elections. Throughout this time, we have seen attacks on both trade unions and working people increase in ferocity, including the introduction of more anti-trade union laws and this has impacted trade union membership across both the public and private sector.
Despite this, the CWU has always remained a leading voice in our political sphere and has achieved tangible results for our members, as our focus has always been on building the connection between our industrial and political work. The new Labour Government has introduced the Employment Rights Bill just last week, based on the New Deal for Workers campaign that the CWU started over eight years ago. These new rights in the workplace and the repealing of anti-trade union laws can be directly attributed to the CWU’s political fund and our ability to campaign effectively, in Westminster and beyond.
As we look to the future, we will continue to campaign for the new Government to go further on their promises to transform the world of work and introduce wider collective rights for workers and trade unions. The CWU will also continue to build wide-ranging political support for our members, particularly as we face a period of historic change in our sectors- whether it is the takeover of Royal Mail or the rapid advancement of technology in the Telecoms sector.
I would like to thank all members and branches who played a role in this ballot and thank you for your continued support for the CWU’s political work.
Any enquiries on the above should be addressed to the General Secretary’s department jdunn@cwu.org.
Yours Sincerely,
Dave Ward
General Secretary