This is a statement from NASUWT who today lost their strike ballot on grounds of turnout, despite a strong vote in favour of striking.
Whilst the anti-union legislation is shit, it also highlights the importance of organising as a union.
I don’t like to criticise another union, but everyone I know involved with the NEU has been working their arses off to get turnout high, to sort out replacement ballots, to make sure membership lists are up to date and we’re not counting people who are no longer teachers in the ballot etc. etc. etc.
I haven’t seen much of that from NASUWT. Obviously you don’t see all a union is doing from the outside BUT
If, on Monday, NEU manage to reach threshold where NASUWT haven’t, then it is a lesson to other unions on how important it is not just to take your membership for granted.
Maybe I’m wrong, and NEU will lose too, but it’s definitely worth other unions trying to learn from this.