Those in favour....

Vince Cable talking about the possibility of tougher laws on strikes.  The problem he is seeking to address is somewhat similar to that we have with central or local government elections - if a strike ballot is held and only 40% of the workforce bother to register a vote, and 60% of those who do vote, vote for a strike, the union involved would almost certainly describe that as a mandate to take strike action, despite only 24% (60% of 40%) of the workforce having voted for it.  The question is, do you ignore those who didn't vote (as the unions would have it), or do you make the reasonable assumption that those who didn't vote were not in favour of a strike - apathetic perhaps but certainly not in favour?  I think I've said this before, but not voting can be as much a statement of your stance as voting for or against.  I don't think it would be unreasonable to require a certain percentage of the overall workforce to vote in favour of a strike before one can be called.  Of course, what that percentage should be is another matter.