Politics

Our power begins with our strength in the workplace. But often, the terms on which we negotiate with employers are set way beyond the shop floor, in Westminster and beyond. Whether it’s fighting for a just transition to Great British Railways, boosting workers’ rights, or tackling violence and abuse on the transport network, TSSA’s political work is therefore a key part of the union’s campaigning.

Through engagement with politicians in governments, assemblies and local authorities where our members work and live across Britain and Ireland, we advocate for the change needed to benefit you. TSSA representatives regularly meet with Ministers, give evidence to Select Committees and Government consultations, and work with Members of Parliament and other elected politicians to host meetings, briefing events, or to scrutinise decision makers. 

Our political campaigning and influence pays off – raising the profile of the travel and transport industries, while putting the issues you face at the heart of political debate.

One part of our political work includes our affiliation to the Labour Party – the political party established to represent working people in parliament.  We are a member of Labour Unions (formerly TULO) and, alongside the other affiliated unions, we push within the Party for the policy and positions that benefit transport and travel workers.

The Labour link has delivered for our members, ensuring that the Party went into the last election pledging to bring the Train Operating Companies back into public ownership and to strengthen workers’ rights. Through Labour Unions, TSSA was at the heart of securing these commitments and will continue to play a key role in ensuring they are delivered. 

As an affiliated union, TSSA engages with the Party structures in a variety of different ways. We are represented on the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC) by Nicola Jukes. The NEC is the governing body of the Labour Party and has a range of responsibilities. Our membership of the NEC gives us direct access to the Party leadership, including the Prime Minister, and is an important forum for raising your voice to key decision makers.

TSSA members have an important role on the Party’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC), which oversees disciplinary processes in the Party. We are represented by Chris Clark and Paul Beadle on the Committee.     

We also send delegates to Labour’s National Policy Forum (NPF). The NPF sets Labour Party policy and is a key opportunity for the union to shape the Labour manifesto in the interests of our members. Our delegates to the NPF are Nicola Jukes, Andi Fox, and Jayson-Mark Gill. 

Every year, TSSA sends a delegation to Labour Party conference and to Labour Party Women’s Conference, bringing motions and speaking in the debates on the issues that affect you. 

Finally, we also engage with the Party on a grassroots level with TSSA branches sending delegates to their local Constituency Labour Parties, scrutinising their Labour MP and proposing motions, policy and campaigns for the local Party to take forward.

As an affiliate, TSSA plays an active role in endorsing and nominating prospective candidates seeking selection to stand for Labour in elections. We ask that all candidates who seek our backing state their position on relevant policy and campaign areas, including public ownership of rail and evidence of backing trade unions during industrial disputes.

Applications are considered by the Political Committee – a group comprised of Executive Committee and lay members, including our Labour NEC member.

For more information or to seek TSSA's support, please email politics@tssa.org.uk

To spend money on political activities, the law requires that trade unions create a separate Political Fund. In essence, the Fund is what enables your union to maintain a voice in elections and the corridors of power, ensuring your interests are represented all the way from the workplace to the Westminster parliament, the devolved assemblies, mayoralties, and councils across the UK.

Our ability to do that crucial work is based solely on TSSA members each contributing a small amount to the fund.

With just a small contribution from individual members, the Political Fund has provided the resources for a string of TSSA victories, funding winning campaigns for public ownership of the railways, greater employment rights, and saving our ticket offices. It is a prime example of how we’re stronger when we pull together.     

With your contribution, we can continue to win for transport and travel workers, campaigning for a safe, inclusive, and green transport system that puts staff and passengers at its centre.

Opting out

All subscription-paying members of the union who do not opt-out contribute to TSSA’s Political Fund. The Political Fund allows the union to spend money on the ‘political objects’ set out in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, helping us to campaign politically on the issues that affect you.

Every member of the union has the right to opt-out from the fund. Any member who chooses to opt-out shall not be excluded from any benefits of the union or placed in any respect either directly or indirectly under any disability or disadvantage as compared with other members of the union (except in relation to the control or management of the political fund).

To opt-out members can use the official opt-out notice form or send a written request that clearly states that they do not want to contribute to the political fund. Such a written request can be delivered in person, sent by post, email, or through any electronic form the union provides. Members can get a copy of the official opt-out notice form from: a) TSSA, by emailing membership@tssa.org.uk; or b) from the Certification Officer by emailing info@certoffice.org.

Opt-out forms should be delivered to TSSA’s head office or emailed to membership@tssa.org.uk. An opt-out notice will take effect 21 days from TSSA’s receipt of it, or by 1 January in the year following the year, whichever is earlier.