Trade Union Democracy
The last time Labour's 'electoral college' was wheeled out was in 2007 - for the ballot over the deputy leadership of the party - which Harriet Harman won.
How many people do you think voted in the trade union section of the ballot - which is worth one third of the total vote?
256,000 - is the answer - or only 8% of those entitled to vote, according to press reports.
But only 215,000 of these votes were valid - due to union members not ticking the box that required people to confirm their support for Labour - so the participation rate falls to an even less impressive 7%.
Well that's hardly surprising - given that trade union members are no different to anyone else in their voting habits.
The majority don't even support the Labour party - and many are blissfully unaware that they are actually paying a political levy - in their weekly or monthly union contributions.
When you first join a trade union - the political affiliation business is glossed over and not explained properly - with most people just signing up in double quick time.
For long standing members, opting out of the political fund is a deliberately difficult and time consuming process - so hardly anyone bothers.
The low turnout in such ballots raises a number of issues about trade union democracy, for example:
How many people do you think voted in the trade union section of the ballot - which is worth one third of the total vote?
256,000 - is the answer - or only 8% of those entitled to vote, according to press reports.
But only 215,000 of these votes were valid - due to union members not ticking the box that required people to confirm their support for Labour - so the participation rate falls to an even less impressive 7%.
Well that's hardly surprising - given that trade union members are no different to anyone else in their voting habits.
The majority don't even support the Labour party - and many are blissfully unaware that they are actually paying a political levy - in their weekly or monthly union contributions.
When you first join a trade union - the political affiliation business is glossed over and not explained properly - with most people just signing up in double quick time.
For long standing members, opting out of the political fund is a deliberately difficult and time consuming process - so hardly anyone bothers.
The low turnout in such ballots raises a number of issues about trade union democracy, for example:
- How can a tiny minority of 7% speak for 100% of the members?
- Why do the trade unions waste their members money these ridiculous ballots - which must cost at least £2 million a throw?
- Why not just restrict the ballot to individual members of the Labour party - because the rank and file are clearly voting with their feet?
