Union Ballots
The Unite union announced the result of another ballot yesterday - this time amongst ground staff at several UK airports run by BAA (British Airports Authority).
Unite proclaimed a great result and a convincing mandate - saying that its members voted by a margin of 3 to 1 in favour of strike action.
But what the union doesn't highlight - is that less than half of its members bothered to vote at all.
Apparently a total of 6,185 members were balloted - but only 3054 returned their ballot papers.
3054 equals 49% of the total Unite membership - so why would 51% vote with their feet - and what implications does that have for the union?
Of those who voted - 2263 supported the call for strike action - or 74.1% of 3054
2263 equals 36.6% of 6185 (the total number balloted).
So, 3922 members either didn't vote or voted against industrial action - or 63.4% of the total membership.
Presumably there are also non-union members amongst the workforce - who would, of course, not be entitled to vote in a union ballot - so the picture gets muddier still.
Now the union certainly has a mandate for action - under its own rules and in accordance with the legislation.
But whether it would be wise to embark on a campaign of damaging strikes - on such shaky ground - is another matter altogether.
Unite proclaimed a great result and a convincing mandate - saying that its members voted by a margin of 3 to 1 in favour of strike action.
But what the union doesn't highlight - is that less than half of its members bothered to vote at all.
Apparently a total of 6,185 members were balloted - but only 3054 returned their ballot papers.
3054 equals 49% of the total Unite membership - so why would 51% vote with their feet - and what implications does that have for the union?
Of those who voted - 2263 supported the call for strike action - or 74.1% of 3054
2263 equals 36.6% of 6185 (the total number balloted).
So, 3922 members either didn't vote or voted against industrial action - or 63.4% of the total membership.
Presumably there are also non-union members amongst the workforce - who would, of course, not be entitled to vote in a union ballot - so the picture gets muddier still.
Now the union certainly has a mandate for action - under its own rules and in accordance with the legislation.
But whether it would be wise to embark on a campaign of damaging strikes - on such shaky ground - is another matter altogether.
