A worried co-conspirator gets in touch with a Unison strike action ballot paper. This was sent out to a former Unison member despite the fact that they no longer work in the public sector. They left eighteen-months ago and no longer pay dues to the union. Either one of those things alone should have ruled him out of voting on strike action…

Right at the bottom of the forms sent out, in the smallest print on the whole page, is a reference to people “leaving employment before 30 November” not being “entitled to vote and should not do so”, however Guido can see no way that this would be verified or checked if these ballots are being sent to all and sundry.

The legitimacy of strike ballots is often questioned in terms of turnout and percentage of the vote, but this potential of widespread fraud goes way beyond that…