Strike Action

[Debbiedle]

Aren't you starting to have a sneaky suspicion that there is something bigger and more sinister behind this strike action? Maybe some political flexing of muscle?

[Dave A]

Was there ever much doubt? It's what makes it interesting as opposed to irritating.

[duncan drennan]

The thing that is disturbing (if the statement is true) is that people are being used as pawns — people who struggle to pay their bills at the end of the month are losing money each day. How ethical is it to abuse these people (and all the others depending on their services) for some political game?

[Dave A]

Blockade

This morning my staff compliment is going to be severely diminished. So far I've had calls from staff who are blockaded in coming from Kwa Mashu side along North Coast Road, and from the Kenville area.

My office is on North Coast Road, a major access route in from the North. It's quiet. There are precious few busses running and not a single taxi in sight.

Now do I apply no work, no pay?

[Dave A]

Judging by reports from my staff who have made it in today, stories of blockades seems a tad exaggerated. So definitely a no work, no pay day for me.

I'm vaguely considering a lock-out tomorrow

[stephanfx]

In PTA we also had some fears about the availability of transport, but it seems as though everybody made it.

[Graeme]

Lock Out

Iv'e lost touch with the Labour Laws - is a lock-out permitted?

[Dave A]

You might have noticed - large chunks of the LRA have been tossed out the window on this one.

However, in terms of the LRA, business has as much right to lock-out as workers have to strike. As added grist, some of my staff are in contravention of a collective bargaining agreement as a result of this. They're unprotected by the LRA.

[duncan drennan]

No link?!?

The commission had recommended that Mbeki, his Cabinet and other public office bearers receive salary increases of up to 57%.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has used the recommendations as a rallying point in its current public-service strike, saying its 12% salary increase demand was nothing compared to what Cabinet ministers would soon receive.

However, Fraser-Moleketi said it was wrong for Cosatu to try and link the current wage negotiations to the commission's recommendations.

"There is no link and there should not be any link between the recommendations that Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke has made and the current wage dispute," she said.

Full story on M&G Online

It is just me that fails to understand how there is "no link"?

Maybe we should have dead weight reduction wage changes for parliamentarians. There are some ministers who are (literally) getting too big while their portfolio's starve. Forget about changing people's budgets when they do well/badly, let's change their salaries. How about -1% every time a prisoner escapes, and so on? That money can go into a pool for public sector workers to supplement their pay.

[Dave A]

The same commission report had ordinary parliamentarians getting a 5.4% increase.

[Snoopy_inc]

Dave and dsd,

People have always been used as pawns in the political chess game. Name me one political situation where the people werent used?

The problem i am sensing is that COSATU is used as a puppet for the masters.... they dont even know it thou. They think they are the reason but they are just the means.

[Debbiedle]

Snoopy this is what has me a bit nervous! Cosatu are possibly being used and they in turn are using their members. There is hopefully going to be payoff for the members, but each of those members carry a vote and then it becomes payoff for the politician...........

[Graeme]

Not Without its Humour

I don’t know how many viewers spotted the image on last night’s TV news of a jolly black woman, in the midst of all the chanting, toyi-toying crowd, holding up a placard which read “I don’t want Peanuts, I want Hazel Nuts“.

So heartening to see that amidst all the angst about the strike, a sense of humour can still be here, alive and well!

[Dave A]

it becomes payoff for the politician...........

Now there's a thought. I've been thinking along the lines of COSATU seeking to re-assert some influence on the ANC. But of course, there is an individual who stands to benefit from this. And the worst hit region is KZN.

Rather insightful comment there, Debbie.

So heartening to see that amidst all the angst about the strike, a sense of humour can still be here, alive and well!

Oh yes indeed.

But then there are educators amongst that crowd. I suspect a sense of humour is vital to keeping one's sanity in that game.

[duncan drennan]

So what exactly is a strike if everyone is back at work?