15th July 2024

Circular No. NP/168/24

Dear Colleague,

RMT 2024 POLITICAL FUND BALLOT 

I am writing to advise you of arrangements and give advanced notice of the RMT Political Fund Ballot that must be concluded by early November 2024.  

The law says all unions must have a separate Political Fund if they want to spend money campaigning on issues that have a political content.

As you will be aware the RMT Political Fund is formed by deducting money from members’ union subscriptions. This is often known as the “political levy” and amounts to just £3.12 a year, or 26p a month. 

It is important that members understand that the Political Fund and political levy is not about affiliation or support for any political party. The Political Fund is used to allow the union to run political campaigns and lobby politicians on the bread and butter workplace issues that affect RMT members.

For example, the RMT Political Fund has been used for campaigns to defend jobs, pay, conditions and pensions, opposing ticket office closures, repeal of anti-union legislation, better rights for seafarers after the P&O scandal and public ownership and increased public investment in public transport.  

The Legislation 

Under anti-trade union legislation introduced by the Conservative Government in the 1980s, unions are required to hold a ballot of all members every ten years to keep the right to have a Political Fund. A majority of those who vote in the ballot must vote “Yes” for the union to keep the political fund.

The ballot is not just about the RMT’s national Political Fund. It is also about the right of RMT branches to retain their own Political Funds. If we do not have a national Political Fund then it will be also unlawful for branches to hold their own Political Fund.

The RMT last held its Political Fund ballot in 2014 when the vote was 96% in favour of retaining the fund.

You will also be aware that under the 2016 Tade Union Act, since March 2018 new members joining the union cannot pay the political levy unless they agree to opt into the RMT Political Fund when joining or after they have joined. It is for this reason that both the RMT online and paper membership forms have information explaining the benefits of the Political Fund. It is also the case that any member can opt out of paying into the political fund. 

I make this point because the Political Fund ballot is not about whether members individually choose to pay into the Political Fund, it is about the right of the union to keep a political fund so it can continue to campaign in the interest of all RMT members.

If we lose the Political Fund then, quite simply, we will not be able to campaign to campaign as effectively on important issues that affect our members in the workplace. Big business interests and employers’ organisations that are against advancing our members’ rights, will have a huge advantage over the Union. They are not required to have a Political Fund and can spend millions of pounds lobbying against the interest of our members. Without our Political Fund we will be seriously weakened. We will be fighting with one hand tied behind our back.

Ballot and Campaign Timetable 

The ballot will be conducted by the independent scrutineer Civica.  The ballot will be a postal ballot and voting papers will be sent directly to members’ homes or to another address which the member has requested the union in writing to treat as their postal address.

The ballot will commence on 16th September and close on 21st October.

Week commencing 12th August - campaign materials including posters, leaflets and stickers will be sent directly to Branches and activists. 

Week commencing 19th August - an initial advert will also appear in the RMT News around this time.  Members will also begin receiving texts and emails and social media content in the run up to the ballot 

Near the start of the ballot propaganda material will be featured in a further issue of RMT News.

The campaign will be won in the workplace. As you know our Branch officials,  activists and reps are the most important link with union members at work.  There is nothing as effective as face-to-face campaigning and only you can deliver that. Our active members are the key to persuading members to vote Yes and I would be grateful if Branches and Regions could begin to consider how they can support the campaign in their spheres of influence. 

I will keep you advised of developments. 

Yours sincerely,

Michael Lynch

General Secretary