Labour General Secretary apologises over call for ‘all’ members to be in a union
Disabled and unemployed members had voiced concerns over the 'I Heart Unions Week' tweet.
The Labour Party’s General Secretary Jennie Formby has apologised after accidentally implying that unwaged and long-term sick members of Labour must be in a trade union.
In a tweet celebrating ‘I Heart Unions’ week – which the Labour Party officially endorses – Formby said on Thursday: “Reminder that our rule book says all Labour Party members should be in a union.”
Reminder that our rule book says all Labour Party members should be in a union so if you’re not a union member already, join one today – there’s a union for everyone! Click on the link to find the right one for you: https://t.co/vg2ynWzRHI#HeartUnions pic.twitter.com/jMso0ONHFO
— Jennie Formby (@JennieGenSec) February 14, 2019
The Labour rulebook states:
“To be and remain eligible for membership, each individual member must…if applicable, be a member of a trade union affiliated to the Trade Union Congress or considered by the NEC as a bona fide trade union and contribute to the political fund of that union (a person who does not contribute to the political fund of her/his trade union may not be an individual member of the Party).”
The ‘if applicable’ leaves a lot of wriggle room, but several disabled and unemployed Labour party members replied with anger to Formby’s tweet, over the implication that they must join a union or face being kicked out:
I’m unemployed due to being mentally ill and I don’t particularly want to join a union at this moment in time,I haven’t ever been a member of a union in my life so far. I cannot afford to pay out anymore money. If that’s what gets me kicked out of the Labour Party then so be it.
— Nathan Harmer (@nharmertaylor) February 15, 2019
So, as a disabled, chronically sick person who hasn’t worked for 25 years, is on DLA and ESA, I now have to cancel my renewed Labour membership? Someone tell me what’s going on, please?
— Laurie 🌹♿️ #JC4PM2019 #GE (@Laurie74598982) February 14, 2019
I’m with @Laurie74598982 what happens. I’m a member but have not worked since 2003. Long term sick.
— 🐾 dave 🐾 (@furbabesdad) February 14, 2019
Formby then issued a clarification on Friday:
My apologies if this tweet promoting Heart Unions week has caused any confusion. The actual wording of the rule says ‘if applicable’ so does not apply to unwaged members https://t.co/bH2WYfL9r1
— Jennie Formby (@JennieGenSec) February 15, 2019
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