The Socialist 1 November 2007

NHS: Kick big business out!

Targets take their toll on cleaners

Feature: NHS - Time to fight for a national strike

Editorial: NHS campaigning - national strategy needed

System change to stop climate change

CWU executive member calls for a 'no' vote

Unison local government ballot result ignored

Socialism 2007

Socialism 2007 web pages

Countering the race to the bottom

Respect in crisis - what lessons for socialists?

The socialist interview

Nigeria: Day of action protest march in Osogbo

Switzerland: Racism dominates election campaign

Poland: Right-wing populist government defeated

Wales shop stewards' network conference

London and South East regional conference

Bolton care workers' dispute: Workers' determination yields first signs of success

Vote Martin Powell-Davies for NUT vice president

Journalists: Fight low pay and long hours

Previous issues, etc

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Unison local government ballot result ignored

Unison's national joint committee voted by 24-3 on 29 October, not to go for industrial action over local government pay. This was despite there being a narrow majority (51.6%:48.4%) in the recent ballot for action.

Socialist Party member Glenn Kelly said: "This is the first time I can remember when the union got a 'yes' vote for action and didn't use it." Glenn made the point that the least they could do was go back to the employers with the vote for action and argue for more money, ie at least use the vote for action as a lever.

The postal strike meant that many members didn't get their ballot paper. But there was still a 'yes' vote. Everybody is entitled to be cautious about calling action but the union leadership should make the most of the vote.

Glenn has also argued that Unison should have held the ballot after the national local government conference in June.