of bullying and harassment, including the suspension of Unite representative Damien Nota. In a consultative ballot of around 100 workers, a 95 percent majority voted in favour of balloting for full strike action. The ballot began on Tuesday. Unite said it remains open to negotiations to avoid the dispute. Consultative ballot of UK telecom workers BT telecom workers are currently taking part in a consultative ballot, lasting until December 10. The Communications Workers Union ballot conducted will establish if telecom workers want to strike against BT’s reconfiguration plans that will mean job cuts and role changes. There has not been a national BT strike since 1994. The WSWS wrote on September 21, the “consultative or indicative ballot is becoming the trade union bureaucracy’s weapon of choice in avoiding strikes and maintaining their role as partners with employers.” Legally, the bureaucracy can hold such ballots at any time under their own rules. Unions are required by law to hold a further legal ballot to proceed with any industrial action. The consultative ballot never implies action being taken, even if a massive vote in favour is returned. Middle East Protests by Iraqi civil servants over pay arrears On Sunday, hundreds of civil servants in the Iraqi governorates of Karbala, Babil, Muthanna and Maysan held protests over wage arrears. The workers are owed wages for September and October. The Iraqi government blames its failure to pay on time to the ongoing financial crisis after years of invasion followed by civil war. Israeli trade union federation strike threat over quarantine payments On Sunday, the Israeli trade union federation, Histadrut announced its intention to launch a general strike to demand quarantined workers are paid as promised. In late September, the Ministry of Finance, Histadrut and employers’ organisations agreed to pay workers who were in quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers have not been paid because of a hold up in parliament. Under Israeli law Histadrut can launch the strike 14 days after giving notification.