POLITICAL FUND BALLOTS AND THE ASSOCIATED SOCIETY OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND FIREMEN (ASLEF)

Early day motion 126, tabled 23 November 2004 by Lord Mann (Labour). Signed by 58 members.

That this House notes the recent ballot held by ASLEF in which 80 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 their 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 this trade union bears an excessive financial burden in order to fulfill its natural role of representing their members' interests; and believes that in light of the ASLEF members' recent overwhelming vote in favour of retaining the union's political fund the Government should abolish the legislation that puts such excessive burdens on trade unions.

Signatures by party: Labour 52, Labour/Co-operative 6.