A LEADING trade union has voted to suspend any donations outside of its affiliation fees to the national Labour Party.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) decided at a special conference to ensure additional funding outside of nominal affiliation fees would instead go to specific Labour candidates.
Funds will also be given to campaigns that support the CWU’s industrial and political aims, and to support the selection and election of such candidates.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said he opposed disaffiliation from Labour but called for a new relationship.
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He said: “The decision taken by conference today allows the CWU to focus its political attention on building our movement out in communities.
“The current Labour leadership is failing to connect with working class communities and that was made clear by the scores of our members who spoke passionately in the debate today.
“In focusing our political resources on those in Labour who are really up for delivering for our members we are looking beyond the factional war being waged by an out-of-touch Westminster politics.
“This is a positive step for our union and a real offer to those in Labour who want to change things on the ground.”
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