Investigate magazine has run an article on the Service and Food Workers Union and its support for Labour in the 2005 general election. Apparently, an internal union report says:
Overall the Union spent $237,364 during the election campaign. Around $100,274 was spent on printing, photocopying, postage, petrol cost, telephone tolls, the delegates' election conference and delegates' expenses. The cost for staff inovolved in the election activities was $137,090. Our Union dedicated almost 7% of [its] totalfinancial resources as well as one-month labour force for the election campaign.
I'm sure many of these union members think this is a huge a waste of money frittered away on a party and government that obviously doesn't care much about these workers. Such a huge donation to Labour is tragic, especially when you think about the levels of wages of those in this union.