Trade Union Ballots
The fuss about the 'unlawful' ballot of British Airways cabin staff is turning into a bit of a farce.
Sure the unions chance their arm when it comes to membership ballots - databases are often woefully out of date - and the trade unions don't like the nuisance of having to publish full and factual results.
Because some ballots are poorly supported - sometimes the significance or even legitimacy of a particular result - might be open to challenge or interpretation.
But if so, the punishment should fit the crime - overturning the British Airways ballot result in the courts - declaring the whole business unlawful - seems rather disproportionate in the circumstances.
Taking a legal sledgehammer to crack a nut is not the solution.
In return the unions would be wise to adopt a policy of full and open disclosure - on all future ballot results, not just strike ballots - in which case these problems would never arise.
In the past, unions have been quite happy to 'spin' ballot results - hiding important information in the small print - even omitting crucial details from official statements.
Ballot results should explain the total number of voting papers issued, the number of votes cast Yes and No etc - and the total number of spoiled papers.
It's not just the law - it's a requirement of union rule books as well.
Sure the unions chance their arm when it comes to membership ballots - databases are often woefully out of date - and the trade unions don't like the nuisance of having to publish full and factual results.
Because some ballots are poorly supported - sometimes the significance or even legitimacy of a particular result - might be open to challenge or interpretation.
But if so, the punishment should fit the crime - overturning the British Airways ballot result in the courts - declaring the whole business unlawful - seems rather disproportionate in the circumstances.
Taking a legal sledgehammer to crack a nut is not the solution.
In return the unions would be wise to adopt a policy of full and open disclosure - on all future ballot results, not just strike ballots - in which case these problems would never arise.
In the past, unions have been quite happy to 'spin' ballot results - hiding important information in the small print - even omitting crucial details from official statements.
Ballot results should explain the total number of voting papers issued, the number of votes cast Yes and No etc - and the total number of spoiled papers.
It's not just the law - it's a requirement of union rule books as well.
