Originally Posted by Icarus2001
97% is a pretty solid result for ALL ten questions. What were the absolute numbers, that is, how many actually voted?
Voting papers were sent by the AEC to all NJS Pilots that were both (a) TWU members and (b) on expired AWAs. TWU coverage at NJS is over 80% of line pilots. Around 55% of pilots are on expired AWA, that is, the nominal expiry date of the AWA has passed and a new agreement is due. New hires and recent command upgrades/fleet changers are on current AWA.
Vote was conducted strictly in accordance with the rules (Workplace Relations Act 1996, as amended by "WorkChoices") and overseen by an independent government agency (AEC = Australian Electoral Commission, Adelaide office).
Vote was by secret ballot. No 'peer pressure' by asking for a show of hands at a meeting. I don't know what happened back in eightee9, but this one was a government ballot paper, completed in the privacy of the pilot's home, straight into a sealed envelope to the AEC.
The vote would have been carried if at least 50% of eligible pilots had voted and returned at 50%+1 in favour. The fact that 100% of eligible pilots voted, no donkey votes, no votes discarded due to incorrect marking or not following voting instructions, giving a result of 97% in favour of ALL proposed actions, prompted an involuntary response of "Remarkable!" from a seasoned industrial player!
There is a clear message here. The NJS pilots have stuck religiously to the rules. The WorkChoices rules were designed by prominent right-wing lobbyists, legal, and industrial specialists to eliminate all possible 'undesireable' union influence and persuasive tactics. Many NJS pilots that would like to have voted "yes" were excluded by their current AWA status.
This result is cleaner than a whistle. 2 pilots dissenting out of 70+ eligible to vote. The lunatic fringe will make their hysterical arguments... they will just have to wait until a Fascist party puts up some candidates for Federal parliament.
In the meantime, NJS senior management is having a "real world" experience. They didn't listen to their 'gentlemans' Pilot Groups, they didn't heed the warnings of their Flight Operations people, they didn't wake up and smell the coffee.
Time for NJS to stop its posturing, and come to the table.
Lets talk.