I can fully understand the anger felt by many members of our public services, but as so few of them even bothered to respond to the ballot it is not surprising that they are out today. They should have voted! On the other hand Sirotka and the other union leaders must be hoping for a crippling day of chaos to show the solidarity etc of the cause.
Given that the mandate from that ballot only runs for 28 days and given the offer made by the government, they union leaders should have jumped at Maud's suggestion that each Union member who felt strongly should stay away for one hour and not be penalised. As a face saving measure for both parties this was ideal, but I fear that Sirotka and others see themselves as latter-day Arthur Scargills.
Sirotka, knowing that he would be unlikely to win a second ballot for strike action once the government had placed an offer on the table which would see many, many of the union membership better off, he should have jumped at a reduced strike suggestion...but no, the Scargill mindset at work again.
What will be the outcome?...the government will impose legislation that forces all unions to have at least a 51% yes vote for strike action or face legal consequences, and given the apathy that saw a scarce 30% bothering to return their voting papers, of which 60% of those wanted strike action.....I leave others to do the maths 60% of 30% is not very many, it will be very hard for the unions to get public backing to resist any such legislation.
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