Papillon
I don't agree for a moment they have a weak mandate. 80% is a strong vote, however it's dressed up.
On the face of it 80% sounds good, but when combined with a turnout of <80% and when considered that many have no intention of striking, but voteed yes because BASSA told them too/their mates did/they thought WW would back down if they did/etc a low 60's% mandate becomes substantially weaker than that (multiple previous threads refer). Add to that the restated promise of permanent loss of Staff Travel adn the implicaitons that has for commuters and annual vacations etc and I contend that the mandate for strike action is weak (and becoming weaker by the day).