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Trade unions to prepare collective response to Miliband's reforms Trade unions to prepare collective response to Miliband's reforms
(about 1 hour later)
Trade unions are to meet on Tuesday to try and agree on a common approach to Ed Miliband's plans to re-evaluate their relationship with the Labour party, amid signs opposition is hardening to any substantial reforms to their collective voice. Trade unions are to meet on Tuesday to try and agree on a common approach to Ed Miliband's plans to re-evaluate their relationship with the Labour party, amid signs that opposition is hardening to any substantial reforms to their collective voice.
Senior union officials are also demanding that any changes include a Labour commitment to reform the law governing the way in which companies and individuals donate to the Tory party.Senior union officials are also demanding that any changes include a Labour commitment to reform the law governing the way in which companies and individuals donate to the Tory party.
Some are insisting they will follow the example of the GMB union and unilaterally cut their affiliation and funding to the Labour party if Miliband tries to force them to make concessions they oppose.Some are insisting they will follow the example of the GMB union and unilaterally cut their affiliation and funding to the Labour party if Miliband tries to force them to make concessions they oppose.
The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation (Tulo) – the group that assembles the 16 unions affiliated to Labour – is due to meet ahead of a Labour national executive committee meeting on 4 February and a downgraded special conference on 1 March.The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation (Tulo) – the group that assembles the 16 unions affiliated to Labour – is due to meet ahead of a Labour national executive committee meeting on 4 February and a downgraded special conference on 1 March.
The conference, called to sanction the reforms, will now last only two hours – suggesting the Labour leadership want to minimise public airing of the dispute within the party over the wisdom of embarking on the reforms in the first place. The conference, called to sanction the reforms, will now last only two hours – suggesting the Labour leadership wants to minimise public airing of the dispute within the party over the wisdom of embarking on the reforms in the first place.
Miliband demanded changes to the party-union link the wake of the controversy over Unite's role in the selection of a Labour canddiate for Falkirk. Miliband demanded changes to the party-union link in the wake of the controversy over Unite's role in the selection of a Labour candidate for Falkirk.
The brief special conference at London's ExCel centre will then be followed by a two-day local government conference likely to be seen as a pre-election rally. Some unions are insisting that separate items in the reform package proposed by Miliband should be voted upon individually at the conference, and are stressing that any agreements to reform in principle would take four to five years to implement.The brief special conference at London's ExCel centre will then be followed by a two-day local government conference likely to be seen as a pre-election rally. Some unions are insisting that separate items in the reform package proposed by Miliband should be voted upon individually at the conference, and are stressing that any agreements to reform in principle would take four to five years to implement.
The unions, including Unison, have said they are not willing to convene expensive special rules revision conferences to make the changes. Unions and constituency delegates divide the votes 50-50 at the special conference, so unless Miliband raises the stakes in some other way – such as threatening a referendum of party members – he will have to strike a deal with the unions.The unions, including Unison, have said they are not willing to convene expensive special rules revision conferences to make the changes. Unions and constituency delegates divide the votes 50-50 at the special conference, so unless Miliband raises the stakes in some other way – such as threatening a referendum of party members – he will have to strike a deal with the unions.
The brevity of the special conference suggests the Labour leadership is hoping to seal a deal with the unions well ahead of it. Intense bilateral conversations are under way between the party and unions at present, and Labour officials close to Lord Collins, the former party official brokering an agreement, say the negotiations are entering a critical stage. The brevity of the special conference suggests the Labour leadership is hoping to seal a deal with the unions well ahead of it. Intense bilateral conversations are under way between the party and unions, and Labour officials close to Lord Collins, the former party official brokering an agreement, say the negotiations are entering a critical stage.
Miliband has said he wants union political-levy payers to make a positive choice to seek Labour party associate status, rather than let union headquarters affiliate members to the party on the basis of the number of members that have not opted out of paying the annual fees. Miliband has said he wants union political-levy payers to make a positive choice to seek Labour party associate status, rather than let union headquarters affiliate members to the party on the basis of the number of members who have not opted out of paying the annual fees.
Unions like Unite give Labour £3.5m a year through the affiliation of more than 1 million members at a cost of £3 per member. Unite and the GMB have warned only 10% of its current political-levy payers might positively choose to become associate Labour members, so potentially presaging a cut in party funding. Unions like Unite give Labour £3.5m a year through the affiliation of more than 1 million members at a cost of £3 per member. Unite and the GMB have warned that only 10% of its current political-levy payers might positively choose to become associate Labour members, so potentially presaging a cut in party funding.
Unite, in common with most other unions, has stressed it is not willing to see its voting power at conference affected by the reforms. Currently unions have 50% of the vote at the annual conference, with an individual union's voting power determined by the number of levy payers affiliated.Unite, in common with most other unions, has stressed it is not willing to see its voting power at conference affected by the reforms. Currently unions have 50% of the vote at the annual conference, with an individual union's voting power determined by the number of levy payers affiliated.
Unite is willing to support the idea of asking its members to make a positive choice to become associate party members, but it does not at this stage agree that its vote should then reflect the number of associate members recruited by each union.Unite is willing to support the idea of asking its members to make a positive choice to become associate party members, but it does not at this stage agree that its vote should then reflect the number of associate members recruited by each union.
The Unite executive has already said it wants trade unionists that agree to become associate party members to be given voting rights in Labour parliamentary selections for the first time. The Unite executive has already said it wants trade unionists who agree to become associate party members to be given voting rights in Labour parliamentary selections for the first time.
Unite is also opposed to primaries for Labour's candidate for London mayor, fearing the choice of the Labour canddiate will become a contest between celebrities. It is likely that Collins will propose closed primaries for London Mayor in which only party members and associate members can vote. Unite is also opposed to primaries for Labour's candidate for London mayor, fearing the choice of the Labour candidate will become a contest between celebrities. It is likely that Collins will propose closed primaries for London mayor in which only party members and associate members can vote.
One party source said the unions had at a minimum to accept that the principle of the introduction of associate members from the unions and to agree long-term into the consequences for future Labour leadership elections and union voting power at conference. One party source said the unions had at a minimum to accept the principle of the introduction of associate members from the unions. He added that the unions should have to agree on the long-term consequences for future Labour leadership elections and union voting power at conference.
Very few unions have published submissions to the Collons review but the moderate and relatively small Community union unusually has praised the convening of the special conference saying "it presents us with a once in a generation opportunity to remodel this historic relationship in the interests of all in the labour movement". Very few unions have published submissions to the Collins review, but the moderate and relatively small Community union, unusually, has praised the convening of the special conference, saying "it presents us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to remodel this historic relationship in the interests of all in the labour movement".
It adds: "We stand at a crossroads where inaction is not an option; recent events and the accompanying media narrative have made the status quo untenable. Pursuing the principles of transparency and participation is the only sensible route forward, and if done in the right way the movement should emerge from this process reinvigorated, better protected and well equipped to take on the challenges ahead".It adds: "We stand at a crossroads where inaction is not an option; recent events and the accompanying media narrative have made the status quo untenable. Pursuing the principles of transparency and participation is the only sensible route forward, and if done in the right way the movement should emerge from this process reinvigorated, better protected and well equipped to take on the challenges ahead".
It also calls for a change in the structure of the national executive, saying "in the post-merger world of UK trade unions, it is increasingly difficult for the voices of all union affiliates to be effectively heard at the highest levels of the party and this warrants consideration".It also calls for a change in the structure of the national executive, saying "in the post-merger world of UK trade unions, it is increasingly difficult for the voices of all union affiliates to be effectively heard at the highest levels of the party and this warrants consideration".
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