Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Democratically Speaking

Emotions can become volatile in a close vote. But instead of anger, we should remain calm and accept the process

News nowadays gets old real fast, but what is reported on continues to impact our daily lives for much longer than the daily news cycle or latest Twitter outrage. Take the recent elections in the UK, BC, and US.

On June 8, Theresa May, prime minister of the United Kingdom, lost her parliamentary majority in a snap election. She called the election to solidify her government’s mandate to move forward with negotiating the details of the Brexit vote decision to leave the European Union. On May 9, the BC provincial election delivered much the same result, with a coalition government between the Greens and the NDP the end result. And, as we know all too well, the US had a change in leadership that continues to divide Americans.

Democracy is never a static thing. Some have quipped that it’s the worst form of government—except for all the others. It’s government by the people for the people.

In the workplace, we see democracy played out on a micro scale every time collective agreements are negotiated, debated, presented, and ultimately voted on by members. Sometimes, the vote results in a slim majority ratification.

This is where the challenges come in with democracy. When a vote comes in at a little over 50 percent, emotions can become highly volatile. Close ratification votes can lead to polarization in the workplace, similar to what has happened as a result of the elections in the UK, BC, and US. It can breed distrust and feelings of anxiety. Some express their feelings while others hold them in, but when the vote is close, it usually doesn’t take too long to know who voted which way.

CLAC strives for informed, responsible, and timely negotiations, and we always look to find common ground, peace, and justice in our workplaces. As a result, we do not experience close ratification votes all that often. But when we do, it makes sense that we circle back to review the details of the agreement and make sure everyone is fully aware of what was voted on.

Sometimes, a close vote is simply a matter of misunderstanding, easily resolved by closing gaps in communication. Sometimes, by engaging in one-on-one conversations, we can work through the differences that divide us and reach understanding.

Bargaining committees, comprised of both CLAC representatives and members, work at getting a settlement that meets, as close as possible, the needs of members and the long term success of the enterprise. Prior to voting, they strive to make sure everything is properly communicated to the membership. By doing so, they hope to avoid in our workplaces the polarization that we’ve seen as a result of elections in the UK, BC, and US.

When we find ourselves in a close vote, we ought to remember that democracy has served us well. These are times that call for calm reflection and, if possible, a positive acceptance of the democratic process and outcome, and a willingness for all sides to move forward with the results and work in the best interests of everyone.

Voting is challenging and speaks to the core of our personal values. It is no easy task to vote and it should not be taken lightly. But it’s a lot harder when we don’t seek to be informed, and it’s impossible when we don’t try to understand each other.

Democratically Speaking

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