The results of the DWP pay ballot have been
published. The turnout is disappointingly low at 33%, but make no mistake: this is still a mandate to take industrial action in response to the now imposed pay offer. The fact that 67% of members did not vote is in no way a sign that those 67% do not agree with or won't choose to strike. Please do not believe any communication stating otherwise.
If they really felt that strongly then they would have voted "no" which they clearly haven't.
So the next step is eagerly awaited. The GEC meets tomorrow to decide what should happen next. Please watch this space and the PCS website for news as it happens.
7 comments:
See my post the comment below. We recieve propaganda from management and now we have it from the union. You know perfectly well that the people who doidnt vote no didnt mean yes, it merely expresses an opinion that they are not bothered either way. You cannot and should not be allowed to say that a non vote means yes to a strike its simply not so.
Re the above. Does the post actually say that they all would have voted yes had they bothered voting?
I think we can all see that it doesn't.
You say they are not bothered either way. Therefore I reckon they are happy to go along with the majority democratic decision. Ergo the 67% are more yes people than no people on this question, it would appear.
However Senior management would have us believe the opposite, which it suits them to say, of course.
Do we really think that the silent 67% are happy with a below inflation pay award? I think not. However, they may not have the stomach or finances for the fight. They may not support strike action but I suspect that when the gas or council tax bill arrives then they may not be motivated to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the challenges Jobcentre Plus will present in the coming year. How will our employer deliver ESA without the support of staff? Interesting Times.
Basically what you have is 67% of people couldn't be bothered - hardly a mandate for a strike, together with 38 % of those voting not wanting to strike. I agree with the previous comment don't try making the figures as a clear mandate to strike - it isn't.
it would be intersting to know what percentage of those agreeing to go on strike are on maximum. very very high i bet
Since I am nowhere near my max, the pay offer is better for me than for many other collegues. But that hasn't stopped me from voting for industrial action as I can see how unfair the offer is to so many staff in DWP. This months pay packey may look good to you today Old Toad, but when you take out the arrears and the performance bons, is it really that good? Andt will it look so good in eighteen months, two years time when you are getting no extra money but the cost of living is contunually going up?
Sorry for the typing errors!
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