One of the country's biggest trade unions has proposed that all major unions donate extra funds to help the beleaguered Gillard government fight for re-election, but has failed to win support.

The response suggests that even the Labor Party's staunchest allies see the election as a lost cause.

Union boss Paul Howes is pouring more money into Labor's campaign Credit:AFR

The national secretary of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes, made the proposal at a meeting of the leaders of key unions comprising the Australian Council of Trade Unions on Tuesday.

Mr Howes told the meeting that his union was donating more to the Labor Party than it did at the 2010 election, and urged others to do the same. None supported the proposal.