Some stooped to find reds under the bed. A factor auguring for a good 'no' vote was the stream of scandals involving our 'partners'. Secondly the leadership's campaign was largely within the Union and, again, low-key. The new leadership carries a certain authority and had already done much of the 'educational' preparation for partnership. They went out with the boxes in a comprehensive way and, in some cases held briefing meetings on the job.
Some results show a pattern of big 'yes' votes in new inexperienced workplaces.
This was topped up, especially in Branches traditionally against the deals, by the officials' energy on the ground. However the PPF is so shaky that at times its acceptance in the ballot seems beside the point. Returning to our 1916 analogy, the turn then took several months. With the PPF the ink was still wet when the CIE workers struck with, as all saw, a direct challenge to the deal. The ASTI are no longer alone against the 'early settlers' terms.