regarding the timing of the ballot; from the atcos website:
The unions made it clear to management that we would not wait until September (when the August 2009 RPI figure is to be published) in order to agree a consolidated and pensionable pay increase for staff
OK, since the damned thing was going to be draged until June/July, what difference would a couple of month have made. I've yet to receive my ballot papers, but when I do it will be a NO vote for two reasons;
1 - I think the offer is crap
2 - Management need to know that they can't take the piss (any more)