I'm not questioning the numbers in the vote, but the response would depend on the actual information given to members prior to that vote. If the membership was led to believe that the changes to the pension scheme would directly affect them then I would certainly expect a large vote in support of the union. I don't know if that is the situation here, but I have been around long enough to know that the case for and against an argument are not always given equal airing
Again, the Unite Union web site gives - I think as an outsider - rather complete information about the rationale for the strike, which is the closure of the final salary pension plan to newcomers. So whatever one might think of the reasons for union action, in this case it certainly is one where the union members are not thinking of themselves, as they are already within the final salary pension plan, but of the rights of future members.
I was also speaking to somebody recently regarding the Royal Mail strikes late last year, and although they voted for strike action they did so only to put pressure on the management and didn't actually go on strike.
May be so, as I do think that Unite would lose ANY public support it has were it to close 7 airports and inconvenience many thousands of people worldwide, as the repercussions would be global.
That uncertainty about attendance numbers at airports would of course have a much more severe impact. If BAA didn't know how many would turn up for work they might well be forced to close the airport anyway.
BAA had stated that management would be used to ensure security was not breached during the strike, as if it was then the airports would be closed for DAYS to re-establish security, but that all 7 airports would be closed.
On an aside, Richard Branson is taking a very strong stance with regard to possible strike action by Unite members at Virgin scheduled for the 9th and 10th and 16th and 17th January, telling them to go to BA if they want large wage rises...
