The law says that unions must have a separate political fund to spend on political campaigning. This could include a newspaper advertising campaign in support of public services, lobbying for better legal rights for workers, calling for support for the Fire and Rescue Service or holding a rally to improve health and safety protection.
All of our campaigns in the South West and nationally involve lobbying and influencing politicians at every level - in Westminster, Brussels, on local Fire Authorities and councils, even in Brussels!
Getting our message across to politicians is also crucial in our efforts, alongside other unions, for improved health and safety legislation, union and employment rights.
Our political fund, renewed by a large majority by FBU members in a ballot, allows us to finance these campaigns.
The FBU’s parliamentary group ensures we have a greater impact on policy making now and in the future.
FBU members’ participation in the political side of our campaigning is essential. In addition to being providers of an essential public service and a ‘cost’ to the public purse, we are all ratepayers, taxpayers and users of local and national public services.
Your voice, your vote – and those of your families – matters to councillors and MPs.
