Campaign fund frequently asked questions

Why does Community have a campaign fund? 

For Community to campaign effectively, it must have a fund of resources that can be used predominantly for political purposes. This covers campaigns supporting or opposing legislation, with politicians of all parties regardless of the Government in power. 

Campaigning together is an important part of our Community ethos. We fight for a better working world for all our members at work. Without our campaign fund, we will be less effective, less influential, and less likely to win the campaigns our members need. 

What has changed – why do we now have to opt-in? 

A new law called the Trade Union Act, brought in by the Conservative government, means that new Community members (joining Community from 1 March 2018) will now have to ‘opt in’ to our political campaign fund.  

The Tories have done this to make it more difficult for members to contribute to the Union’s political campaign fund. They hope that this will make it harder for the union to deliver on the issues that affect members. 

How much do members contribute to the campaign fund? 

Through all members contributing only a small amount to the fund, Community is able to deliver significant benefits on your behalf.  

Each week Community contributes just 20p of your overall membership subscription to the political campaign fund. This is a small price to pay to ensure that the issues affecting you and your family, both inside and outside of the workplace, are being considered by decision-makers around the country. 

Who decides whether we should have a campaign fund? 

Community is required by law to ballot all members every decade to renew the Political Fund. Every time that Community has done this, the answer from the members has been a resounding YES vote. 

How does the campaign fund work? 

The fund is separate from Community’s general funds and contributions and is accountable through Community’s National Executive Council. All expenditure from the fund must be reported to the Certification Officer who regulates trade union activity. 

What about the Labour Party? 

Community members have decided that the Labour Party best represents their interests and because of this, Community is affiliated to the Labour Party. 

However, the campaign fund also supports Community’s campaigns and helps to lobby politicians from all parties on issues that matter to Community members. 

I don’t support the Labour Party – should I still pay into the campaign fund? 

Yes. Community’s campaign fund is about raising issues with politicians and ensuring the concerns of Community members are heard. 

Can I opt out of paying this fund? 

Any member of the union may at any time give notice a) on the form of exemption notice specified in rule 4 of Community’s rulebook, or b) written request in a form to the like effect, that they object to contribute to the political fund. 

On giving an exemption notice, a member shall become exempt from contributing to the union’s political fund, where the notice is given:- (a) Within one month of the giving of Notice to Members in rule 1 of this schedule following the passing of a political resolution on a ballot held at a time when no such resolution is in force, as from the date on which the exemption notice is given; or (b) as from 1st January next after the exemption notice is given. 

If you have any questions about our campaign fund, please contact us at politics@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.