The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Rules us to political fund

57.—(1)  The trade union’s rules must provide—

(a) that payments in the furtherance of the political objects to which this Part applies shall be made out of a separate fund (the “political fund” of the union);

(b) that a member of the union who is not a contributor (see Article 59) shall not be under any obligation to contribute to it;

(c) that a member shall not by reason of not being a contributor—

(i) be excluded from any benefits of the union, or

(ii) be placed in any respect either directly or indirectly under a disability or at a disadvantage as compared with other members of the union (except in relation to the control or management of the political fund); and

(d) that contribution to the political fund shall not be made a condition for admission to the union.

(2) A member of a trade union who claims that he is aggrieved by a breach of any rule made in pursuance of this Article may complain to the Certification Officer.

(3) Where, after giving the member and a representative of the union an opportunity of being heard, the Certification Officer considers that a breach has been committed, he may make such order for remedying the breach as he thinks just under the circumstances.

(4) Any such order may, if a county court so orders, be enforced in the same way as an order of that court.