Affiliated Trade Unions

The Labor Party was formed out of the trade union movement to give working people their own political voice. The link from the workplace to the party through affiliated trade unions is what makes Labor unique to this day. This link is more important than ever as we work together to tackle the urgent problems working people face.

Many Australian unions are formally affiliated to the Labor Party.

The basis of affiliation with the Labor Party is in accord with the objectives of the trade union movement that aim to improve the standard of living for their members. By affiliating to Labor, trade unions make use of political action as well as industrial action to achieve outcomes for their members.

Affiliation happens at the state level. State branches of the unions are affiliated to state branches of the Labor Party. Affiliated unions give support to the ALP, and have voting rights at State Conference, where they are represented by 50% of delegates to the State Conference.