UNISON vote to back proportional representation hailed as ‘huge boost’ in campaign for fair votes
Democracy campaigners have welcomed vote which sees UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union, call for proportional representation (PR).
Delegates at the union’s National Delegate Conference backed a motion calling on UNISON to ‘reject First Past the Post’ and for the adoption of PR for UK general elections [1].
UNISON will now join a growing number of Labour affiliated trade unions in support of electoral reform alongside Unite, ASLEF, the Musicians Union and the TSSA
The vote, which saw an overwhelming majority of delegates back the motion, marks a significant moment for the Labour movement, as its two biggest unions have, in the last year, voted to reject Westminster’s distorting and outdated First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system.
Campaigners have welcomed the results as evidence of the ‘growing momentum’ across the trade union and Labour movement for PR. The vote comes less than a year after a motion on electoral reform was narrowly defeated at Labour Party conference due to a lack of support amongst union representatives despite 80% of local party delegates supporting the change.
Nancy Platts, Coordinator, Politics for the Many, said:
“Trade Unionists have always stood at the front of the battle for democratic rights in the UK. Today’s vote shows that that is still true today. For the UK’s largest union to come out in favour of PR is a huge moment for the campaign for fairer votes.
“Across our movement, people can see the corrosive effects of our electoral system – a system that ignores millions of people’s votes and hands power to Tory Governments that fail to represent them. Once we kick the Tories out, we can never allow them to return to power with a minority of the vote again.
“Working people must have a voice at the table and to ensure that we must see more progressive politicians in Westminster. For too long our warped voting system has been a barrier to this.
“UNISON members have decisively rejected our broken First Past the Post system and made their collective voices heard. Labour politicians in Westminster can no longer ignore the growing calls for reform coming from across our movement. It’s time to say enough is enough.”
Stephen Smellie, Unison NEC member, said:
“This motion was passed after being prioritised by members who then had a free debate and vote. The result and the message from conference is clear: Unison members are sick of Westminster’s distorting First Past the Post voting system and want a proportional system that properly reflects the voice of working people. Britain’s largest union has backed PR for parliament for the first time, it is now time to see this long overdue change happen.”
Willie Sullivan, Senior Director, Electoral Reform Society, said:
“It should come as no surprise that support for proportional representation is growing when it’s clear that the status quo has failed so many for so long. Election after election too many voters see their voices shut out.
“We need an end to our broken First Past the Post voting system that and the winner takes all mentality that dominates our politics. Only a fair and proportional voting system can ensure that all voices across the country are fairly represented in parliament.
“Opposition to Westminster’s broken voting system is growing and UNISON’s support for reform shows that the time for change is now. These calls for reform can no longer be ignored.”
Caroline Osborne, Trade Union Officer, Labour for a New Democracy, said:
“It’s fantastic that UNISON has voted in favour of Proportional Representation at its National Delegates Conference. It adds its voice to growing calls for electoral reform from right across the labour movement.
“More and more trade unions can see that First Past the Post is bad for workers and bad for the UK. It’s time for the Labour Party to listen to its members and affiliates by committing to PR in its next manifesto.”
