1. Who we are
Members United is the data controller. We are a member-led organising slate campaigning in the Unite the Union EC elections.
2. Data we collect
2.1 Data you provide directly
- Name
- Email address, phone number, home address, and any messaging-app details you supply
- Workplace or Unite branch (if you choose to provide it)
- Contact-method preferences
- Any information you give when signing up to support the slate or attend events
- Other personal information if you volunteer to support our campaign (incl. experience, equality and diversity information, political opinions etc)
2.2 Data we may collect from other sources
We may collect or infer limited information about you that is not provided directly by you. This includes:
- Email engagement data (e.g. whether you open an email; whether you clicked a link)
- Messaging engagement data from digital platforms we use
- Records of Members United events you attend
- Technical metadata generated by the digital platforms we use (IP address, device type, time stamps), if those platforms make such data available to us
Where we collect your data from other sources, the processing is carried out under legitimate interests, specifically our interest in understanding supporter engagement so we can administer the campaign effectively and comply with internal campaign rules.
We do not use data from other sources to send you unsolicited direct marketing. All direct marketing communications still rely on your consent (see section 4).
3. How we use your data
We use your data solely for:
- Providing information about the Unite EC elections, future internal Unite elections, and other trade union activities and ways to get involved, subject to your consent.
- Informing you about our slate, our candidates, and ways to support the campaign
- Contacting you by email, SMS, Whatsapp (or other instant messaging platforms) and phone, or via Facebook or similar systems.
- Analysing supporter engagement to improve campaign administration (legitimate interests)
We do not use your data for any unrelated purpose.
4. Lawful bases
- Consent: all emails, texts, calls, and digital messages that constitute direct marketing. This meets PECR requirements for unsolicited direct marketing.
- Legitimate interests: analysing engagement data, maintaining internal campaign records, and administering events. This does not override your rights or freedoms. We also use legitimate interest to communicate with you and process your personal information if you are a volunteer or partner who is working with us on our campaigns.
You can withdraw consent for marketing at any time by contacting [email protected].
5. Who we share your data with
We may use third-party service providers for:
- Email distribution
- SMS or calling services
- Digital organising and campaigning tools
- Secure data storage
They will only process your data on our instructions and for our campaign’s purposes.
We do not sell or pass your data to any other organisation.
6. Data retention
All personal data will be securely deleted once the election has concluded unless you explicitly give consent for:
- Continued contact about future Unite elections, and/or
- Updates about campaigns supported by Members United.
If you do not provide this additional consent, your data will be erased shortly after the election period ends.
7. Your rights
You have the following rights:
- To withdraw consent at any time
- To request access to your data
- To request correction of inaccurate data
- To request deletion
- To object to processing based on consent
- To lodge a complaint with the ICO
8. Contact details
For any data-protection queries, withdrawal of consent, or rights requests, email:
[email protected]