I feel vindicated. Those colleauges of mine who are now complaining that we were lied to about the financial state of the company and that's it's 'better to have a pay increase (even if it wasn't in real terms) rather than not have a job' (even though that was never a threat on the table) are the same ones who wouldn't believe the management were manipulating and bulls'ng them last year. I do fear though that history repeats itself because people do have short memories. They need to wake up and see the reality beyond that wool hanging over their face.
How does one convince their colleauges that they do have a choice in these matters and the whole point of a union putting a vote to members is to seek their opinion on matters, not the opinion they've been encouraged to believe through fear?
I'm glad I didn't vote for the pay deal last year, and I feel my judgement on management (albeit without hard facts at the time) was accurate.
That said, I am already looking for a different employer.