11K-AVML
I'm with kats-I - if you don't really care either way, then I think a 'Yes' vote is the way ahead for anyone.
The advice from eglnyt saying
Don't vote if you really want to upset some of the people on this forum
, although personally I think it's perfectly valid not to vote if you really can't decide which way to vote
is very poor in my opinion. I don't understand how anyone can't have some slight opinion in this.
Not voting, either way, is not good for the union. Whatever anyone's thoughts are about the union, not voting plays into the hands of management because it makes them believe that the members are happy to just bumble along and let anything happen.
I know of one airport rep who has stated that his colleagues at his unit are mostly voting 'no' (how true that is is another matter as it is usually the 'no' voters who are more prepared to say anything - the 'yes' voters are less vociferous).
However this rep has also said that there are more important issues to worry about in the future and that he wishes people would vote yes this time.
I think he is alluding to the future of NSL, but whatever, it has nothing to do with the pay vote. We have been told by the union since PPP that we will keep our powder dry. There is always a 'more important' issue around the corner - the last one was pensions.
We caved in on that issue.
you state My main reason to vote no wouldn't be to hope for more pay, but to show managment that I don't appreciate their recent changes to employees conditions in general and how they go about things.
That's one of the main reasons I am voting 'No'.
I don't want to be tied into a two year deal based on supposition - especially given the track record of NATS when it comes to financial planning.
I am also very unhappy with the fact that NATS have, according to the open letter sent over a month ago, reneged on the pension agreement already.
Coupled with a company pleading poverty to its workforce whilst paying out huge dividends, I feel that it is time we drew a line in the sand. Pay is the issue at the moment, and voting no is the only way we can start getting the ball rolling with regards to making management realise we have had enough of the lies and underhand tactics.
It is the follow up to a no vote that would really start to show management that we actually have a backbone and care abut our SAFETY industry.
A yes vote, to my mind, indicates that we are happy with the way management are handling NATS and its employees.
To anyone out there who can't be bothered - send back your voting slip - even if you spoil the paper - at least a spoiled paper shows that although you couldn't make your mind up over this issue, you can actually be bothered to return the damned thing i.e. you are not totally apathetic to issues - unlike 30% of people in the pension vote.
Not returning a voting paper makes a mockery of being in the union - there are plenty of non union memebers in NATS who pay nothing and get the pay deals we vote for - if you're not going to vote, why waste good money on a membership subscription??