Democracy Rules
Strikes and strike ballots are very blunt instruments - as more and more people will start to realise - as next week's public sector pension strikes get underway.
What exactly are people striking for - is a reasonable question to ask?
1 About plans to introduce career average pensions - and end final salary schemes
2 About the planned increase in the normal retirement age
3 About the planned increase in employee contributions
The answer to these questions will vary enormously - depending on whether someone is a head teacher or senior council official - a home carer or a classroom assistant.
Yet people are all asked the same question - a simple one-size-fits-all question - when asked if they are willing to go on strike.
As if their interests are all the same - which they're not of course.
And when you factor in the impact on a low turnout - it's reasonable to ask who is actually voting to go on strike and for what purpose?
Because the low paid - for example - have no interest in trying to defend final salary pensions schemes.
Yet that appears to be what the strike is all about - for some groups at least.
So the strategy and tactics of a strike - any strike - are in the hands of union leaders.
Who decide what question members are asked and - within limits - when to go back and ask the members if they are prepared to strike again.
On this occasion the government has made an improved offer - which benefits the lower paid and those nearest retirement age.
But has not given ground on the issue of raising the normal retirement age for everyone - or on the introduction of pensions based on career average earnings.
Yet the union ballots took place largely before these concessions were made - leaving union leaders to decide their significance - instead of the ordinary members.
And as so many union leaders have a nakedly partisan, political agenda - it's inevitable that the spotlight will now turn - and shine on the way ballots are conducted.
Because there are improvements that could be made to the present system - in the pursuit of greater grassroots union democracy.
