Political work

The FBU’s political work is central to all of the union’s campaigns to win the best deal for FBU members in the workplace.

Our campaigns – our IRMP strategy, the battle for members working the retained duty system, the fight against regional controls and the defence of your pensions – involve lobbying and influencing politicians in Westminster, Brussels, on local councils, the devolved parliament of Scotland, and the Northern Ireland and Welsh Assemblies.

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.

Following the 2004 annual conference decision to disaffiliate from the Labour Party, we have more money to spend on broad education programmes aimed at boosting the Union’s capacity to fight political campaigns in a rapidly changing environment.

The FBU 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.