Opting-Out Made Easy

A number of readers have been in touch to ask about the Labour Party political levy and how they can stop making these payments as part of their regular trade union membership fees. 

Now this requires a bit of work and I've written about what people in this situation need to do on the blog site previously.

So here are two posts from the blog site archive which should make opting-out easy for union members who are fed up paying extra charges on top of their membership fees which go straight into Labour Party coffers.

The names of the three regional secretaries have changed, so I'll post the new contact details separately.

The Government, but the way, is changing the law so that union members will have to make an informed choice about paying a political levy - in future union members will have to opt-in to the system, rather than go to the trouble of opting-out, which is much more sensible if you ask me. 

Particularly with support for the Labour Party in Scotland is at an all time low of just 21% of the population. 

Opting-Out Made Easy (22 October 2010)

In a recent post I promised to provide contact details - for any readers wishing to opt out of paying a political levy to the Labour party.

Now the official way to do this is very cumbersome and involves tracking down some local union rep within your branch - whom no one knows - and who may not even understand what you're talking about.

So the best and quickest way to do this would be simply to send an e-mail to your union regional secretary - and politely ask that person to sort things out on your behalf.

Here are the people you may wish to contact:

GMB - Harry Donaldson: harry.donaldson@gmb.org.uk

Unite - Fiona Farmer: fiona.farmer@unitetheunion.org

Unison - Matt Smith: matt.smith@unison.co.uk

All you need to do is to say something along the lines of:

"Dear Regional Secretary

Labour Party Political Levy

I would like to stop paying a political levy to the Labour party with immediate effect - and would like to union to return this money to me in future.

My union membership number is - xxxxxxx

My address and post code is - xxxxxxxxx

My union branch is - xxxxxxxx

Please action this request on my behalf.

Yours sincerely

A Member"

And that's about all you need to say really - just remember to date the e-mail and include your union membership number etc.

For obvious reasons keep a copy of what you send for future reference.

The unions should not be putting any obstacles in your way - if you wish to exercise your right to opt-out of paying the political levy - if they do, let me know.


Paying a Political Levy (11 October 2010)

A number of readers have asked for advice recently on how they can stop paying a political levy as part of their regular union contributions.

Many union members don't even realise they pay a regular levy which is then passed on to the Labour party to the tune of millions of pounds a year.

For union members who don't actively support the Labour party handing money over on a regular basis is plainly a bit bonkers.

And opting out of the political levy system - would save union members around 10% a year on their union contributions.

So how do you opt out?

Well the best thing to do would be to write to the regional secretary of your own trade union  stating that you no longer wish to pay into party political fund - that supports only the Labour party.

You can then do what you want with the money that you save - you could spend this on yourself or make a donation to some cause or issue that your do actively support.

I will post contact details for the regional secretaries of the trade unions that affiliate to the Labour party over the next few days.