Part I Trade Unions
Chapter VI Application of funds for political objects
The political fund
82 Rules as to political fund.
1
The trade union’s rules must provide—
a
that payments in the furtherance of the political objects to which this Chapter applies shall be made out of a separate fund (the “political fund” of the union);
b
that a member of the union who gives notice in accordance with section 84 that he objects to contributing to the political fund shall be exempt from any obligation to contribute to it;
c
that a member shall not by reason of being so exempt—
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 section may complain to the Certification Officer.
F12A
On a complaint being made to him the Certification Officer shall make such enquiries as he thinks fit.
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.
F23A
Where the Certification Officer requests a person to furnish information to him in connection with enquiries made by him under this section, he shall specify the date by which that information is to be furnished and, unless he considers that it would be inappropriate to do so, shall proceed with his determination of the application notwithstanding that the information has not been furnished to him by the specified date.
F34A
Where an order has been made under this section, any person who is a member of the union and was a member at the time it was made is entitled to enforce obedience to the order as if he had made the complaint on which it was made.
4B
An order made by the Certification Officer under this section may be enforced—
a
in England and Wales, in the same way as an order of the county court;
b
in Scotland, in the same way as an order of the sheriff.