UNISON Labour Link
This works directly within Labour to takes UNISON policies and priorities into the heart of the party
Labour Party affiliation
Labour Link works at local and national level and has a network of Labour Link officers at branch, regional and national levels. Labour Link also works with other unions who are affiliated to the Labour Party to deliver on our shared priorities.
Labour Link is the section of UNISON’s political fund where hundreds of thousands of UNISON members have joined to ensure that UNISON members have a strong voice in the Labour Party.
The work carried out by the Labour Link is outlined in the most recent Labour Link Annual Report, see below.
The operational rules that govern the work of Labour Link at all levels can also be viewed below.
National Labour Link
The National Labour Link committee is made up of national executive council (NEC) members and regional representatives who are elected to the committee for a two year term. The committee is responsible for matters relating to the Labour Link fund and UNISON’s relationship with the Labour Party (other than those matters delegated to the Forum and regional committees). The chair of the National Labour Link Committee is Linda Hobson, and the vice chair is Tess Morris.
Aimy Saunders, head of Labour Link, leads the team responsible for Labour Link work at a UK-wide level.
Email the National Labour Link team.
Labour Link at a regional level
Every UNISON region (except Northern Ireland) has a Labour Link officer who works with the regional Labour Link committees.
Regional Labour Link committees are responsible for developing regional campaigning priorities, nominating candidates within each region and ensuring that UNISON’s priorities are heard within regional and local Labour Party structures. They are also the first point of contact for UNISON’s involvement in Labour Party activities in each region. The regional Labour Link officers are:
Eastern: Sam Earl
East Midlands: Rachel Hodson
Greater London: Karen Westwood
Northern: Paul Foy
North West: Dale Ollier
Scotland: Simon Macfarlane
South East: Louise Barter
South West: Janine Miller
Cymru/Wales: Steve Belcher
West Midlands: Jim Price
Yorkshire and Humberside: Leonie Sharp
Labour Link Forum
Labour Link Forum is the annual meeting of Labour Link, bringing together delegates from regions and self-organised groups to debate and discuss the priorities for the year ahead, to hear from – and lobby – leading Labour politicians and to work collaboratively across the whole union to deliver for our shared priorities within the Labour Party.
Our most recent annual Labour Link Forum was held in July 2025. You can read the motions that were passed at that Forum below.
In 2026, the Labour Link Forum will be held on 10 July in Manchester.
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