What happens when you’re balloted for strike action?

[Orchidgal]

My union is balloting us soon.
My union rep is also my line manager.
Are we supposed to have a workplace union meeting to decide together what we’re going to do? Or is it an individual and secret decision?
I guess I’m unsure of the rep role here.

I’m really conflicted about what to do and how to communicate with my line manager about it. I don’t really want to strike, so I think I will vote no, however of the union does call a strike, I will stand with the union and do so. Unless I am the only one in my workplace who is striking, in which case it would be ridiculous striking when I didn’t even want to, and others are in work.

It’s so awkward! Any advice, anyone?

You don’t have to discuss it with anyone. Vote in line with your feelings, act in line with the union. You won’t be the only one striking, that doesn’t make sense. If the union votes to strike all members should participate (although there are often a few who break it)

Secret ballot. You do what you think is right.

Okay. Vote in line with feelings, act in line with the union is a good mantra, thanks.

There’s only four of us, so that’s why I’m a bit concerned. I don’t want to be the only one striking / not striking :-(

It's a vote and no one will know how you vote.

If the majority vote to strike - you all do whether you voted yes or no.

If they vote not to strike, no one does.

As above. The local branch of my union often has a meeting too, but we have a few hundred members.

💯 vote for strike action! (Tbf I am a socialist!)

Haha I am a socialist too @Crispynoodle, but tbh I am not on the breadline and I feel a bit greedy. I also don’t really want to lose a day’s pay. But I will stick with what the union decides. Thanks all.

Remember that you’re not actually voting to say you will definitely strike. I’d think of it as voting to leave that option open should you feel you want to strike in the near future. (For example, should the government make an insulting pay offer and you realise they have no intention of making a fair one.) The decision to strike is one you do not need to make until the morning of a strike day.

And I’m a rep. I held a meeting where I shared information with my members, answered questions and facilitated a discussion. But the vote is personal.

It’s quite unusual to have managers as union reps isn’t it ? Is it a conflict of interest?
I’ve seen seen work place union reps or officials as managers.

As for the ballot you don’t have to tell anyone how you voted. If a strike is called, the union gives notice, as per employment law.

Even on the day of the strike you can choose what to do. No one can ask you officially in advance whether you are turning up to work or not.

If you vote yes to a strike you don’t have to strike, but the more yes votes the stronger bargaining position the union has.

OK, thanks. I think I understand a bit better now - so if we vote to strike, we still might not? The threat of it could be enough to produce a better pay offer and it may yet be avoided?

I have to say, the union has done a terrible job of explaining all this in their emails.

I voted for strike action but didn't actually strike. Several of my colleagues did the same.

That’s the idea. If you vote not to strike then the union doesn’t have much to negotiate with, so nothing will improve. Usually no one actually wants to strike. It’s a last resort.

You should always vote in favour because carrying out a strike ballot requires huge logistical effort and resource eg must be by post etc - and just getting a high turnout in favour of strike action in the first place can be a very powerful negotiating position. The strike often gets called off because a resolution is reached when the employer can see the strength of feeling based on the results of the ballot and agrees to shift their negotiating position.

We only ever read about high profile strikes but strikes themselves are very rare, and the process leading up to the strike - including securing a high turn out in the ballot - is an important part of the negotiating strategy. lots of strikes are called off due to reaching a negotiated outcome based on the results of the ballot.

Surely voting to strike is a no brainer anyway! What’s the point in being a a trade union if you’re not prepared to strike?
If workers say they’re not prepared to strike then the union has no bargaining power when it comes to pay talks.

Always say you’re prepared to strike even if you don’t really want to !

It has to be a secret ballot.

If the union votes to strike, then all of you should be out

If it votes against then none of you do.

There should not be a situation where only you do, unless all three of your colleagues are scabs.

Yes I know there was a long thread about how rude that phrase is. I wouldn't use it to someone's face, but by using it you know what I mean. A union is a collective organisation and binding strike ballots are at the heart of that. Unionisation is not a personal insurance policy. Now there are workers' and other organisations that can offer thongs like professional idemnity or employment advice, and there are even unions with non-binding strike votes and those would be better organisations for those who do not support collective action.

And yes, strikes can be called off if there is a breakthrough in negotiations between the calling of the strike and its actual date.