CONTROVERSIAL secret polling calculating the boost to Labor from Kevin Rudd returning to the leadership was commissioned by the Queensland branch of United Voice, sparking a bitter fight within the left-wing union.

Labor's own pollster, UMR, refused the job because of its contractual ties with the ALP. The polling was done by Galaxy.

Still popular with the punters ... Kevin Rudd. Credit:Ben Rushton

United Voice's national branch is angry about the potentially destabilising move but the state branch - fighting Queensland government job cuts - argues it is important to quantify the electoral impact of a federal leadership change.

Formerly known as the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, it represents 130,000 members in a wide range of occupations including hospitality, childcare, teachers aides, aged care, property services, health, manufacturing, ambulance workers (in some states) and community services.