One union will be voting against Miliband’s party reforms tomorrow

Whilst most of Labour’s affiliated unions – including the largest half a dozen – will be voting in favour of Miliband’s party reforms at Special Conference tomorrow. But one union won’t be – the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU). Their President Ian Hodson put out this statement earlier today:

“When any politician starts talking about ‘reform’ the klaxons start blaring as ‘reform’ usually means dilution, erosion or a total dismantling of a system for ideological gain. Trade Unions are already an honest and transparent movement of mainly ordinary folk who want the voice of working people to be heard loud and clear in the political arena. The recommendations in this draft have the potential to silence the voice of ordinary people and hamstring their representation in Parliament. There would be no Labour Party without Trade Unions and they have earned the right to decide their own structure and deserve to be consulted in any ‘reform’ discussion in relation to the Political Party they formed. If Labour want to dictate that relationship whilst taking the money, that money can easily be removed and spent elsewhere.”

As most of Labour’s affiliates (but not BFAWU or Young Labour) will be voting in favour tomorrow, it’s a question of how – not if – Miliband’s reforms pass…