Trade unions have agreed to cop increased affiliation fees to help build a $13 million war chest to fight the coalition at the next federal election.
The measure was part of the union movement's strategic plan for the next three years delivered to the ACTU congress by secretary Dave Oliver on Wednesday.
Unions will target 35 marginal seats in the lead-up to the next federal election with 21 people to be embedded in the field from the end of June to run local campaigns.
"Ultimately what we want is a mobile, nimble and nationwide campaigning team," Mr Oliver said.
To fund the strategy congress delegates were asked to support a gradual increase in affiliation fees by $2 a member that will raise $10.8 million over three years.
Existing reserves will also be used for the campaign.
Before the unanimous vote, Mr Oliver urged his comrades to support the move.
"We are far more effective if we pool our resources," he told them.
The campaign will be ramped up in the lead-up to the next election, likely in late 2016, but won't completely disappear afterwards in order to get "best bang for buck".
"It doesn't make sense for us as a movement that we go through this cycle of ramping up, winding down," Mr Oliver said, noting there will be one federal, three state and two territory elections over the next three years.
A key focus will be on growing membership numbers through targeted campaigns, something Mr Oliver admitted didn't happen after Your Rights at Work in 2007.
Unlike that campaign, the unions won't be funding major television advertising this time around.
But it is expected in the "cut and thrust" of the next federal election campaign donations will be offered to get messages on TV screens.
Money set aside over the next three years will be spent on measures including creating a movement-wide campaign database as well as regional TV, radio and online advertising.
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