Truckers strike

[adrianh]

There was a discussion on 702 / 567 yesterday about the strike. The one guy said that he thinks that one should have the right to pre-emptively defend yourself against somebody by the side of the road holding a half-brick. His reasoning was that there would be only one reason for somebody to be holding a half-brick.

The question is really; when does it become self defence; when he throws the brick at your car?, once the brick has hit your car?

Can you shoot a person who breaks into your house and has a knife, gun, halfbrick?
Can you shoot a person who stands next to highway brandishing a knife, gun, halfbrick?

[ians]

During my wasted years, serving in the sadf, we were told that you cannot shoot someone holding a petrol bomb if it was not burning, nor could you shoot that person once he had thrown a lit petrol bomb, only while lighting it. Joke of note, you have 10 soliders on a buffel on fire and a person laughing at us, knowing we cant shoot them. The guys did get into trouble for shooting animals on the border.

[adrianh]

Strange hey, a person holding a half brick next to the side of a road doesn't get arrested, but the guy holding his bare dick does...

[ians]

People starving to death, but billions are spend on arms and aids "research". Why not use the money to feed the starving kids and keep them alive.

[ians]

Truckers stike, petrol stations are running dry. Dont forget to fill up.

[Dave A]

I've been chewing over where labour relations have gone wrong in SA. Not so much on the "pay levels" front but on "the rules of engagement."

The LRA was supposed to ensure the rules of engagement were fair and equitable to employer and employee - to ensure a reasonable balance in negotiating power.

So the employee was given the right to strike, and the employer the right to lock out. The theory was this was fairly balanced. (I happen to disagree that it's fairly balanced, but that's not where I'm headed in this line of thought).

What we are seeing though is more than strike action (essentially the right to withhold one's work) as a negotiation tool by employees.

We are seeing the carrying of weapons.
We are seeing the intimidation of others who want to carry on with their lives.
We are seeing the destruction of property.
We are seeing the assault, and even murder, of people.

It's unlawful, but it continues because there has been no consequence to the offenders. And in fact it has been escalating.

Quite simply, there has to be consequence to bring back some reasonable semblance of balance to the equation.

And my thought was - let's introduce grounds for automatic, mandatory dismissal into the LRA. Either in the Act istself or in the regulations.

The full details would have to be carefully framed. The offences that could invoke this would have to be clearly defined. And I should think part of the balancing act would involve a "you may apply for the job vacancy you have created" step.

Yes, it's drastic. But we've got a severe problem to resolve. And right now I suspect the only way we will solve it is if there is clear, automatic and mandatory consequence for this sort of unlawful conduct.

[Phil Cooper]

In terms of a recent Court decision, the Union can be held liable for the action of its members during a strike.

So - theoretically - the Union must pay for the damaged / destroyed trucks and loads - and medical expenses of the drivers.

[Blurock]

I've been chewing over where labour relations have gone wrong in SA. Not so much on the "pay levels" front but on "the rules of engagement."

Is it because we have total anarchy in some sectors of our population? These are a few of the causes as I see it;
1. There is no respect for the law (example set by our president and other political so called leaders)
2. There is no respect for education (an uneducated fool can get onto a podium and rouse the masses)
3. There is no respect for other people or their property (violent destruction of property every time there is a strike. Disregard of minority rights. Cable theft.)
4. There is no respect for life (people get killed without a blink of an eye. MEC's let their pets die of hunger. Poaching has become a national pastime)

In all these cases the examples are being set by our so called political (non) leaders. The people in power who should set an example are unfit for the job with little or no appropriate education, no morals and are corrupt to the core.

School books were not delivered in many provinces. Schools in the Northern Cape were closed for 4 months. Parents do not see education as a means to escape and fight poverty. Parents vote for uneducated fools because of their populist slogans. Children get raped and abused. Parents and teachers engage in barbaric acts of violence when they strike. People get killed in the process, but they still get rewarded with a wage hike. There is no thought of self improvement, education or reward for hard work. Ministers and government officials steal and enrich themselves through corruption.

This is what the children are seeing and experiencing. They see rewards for barbaric acts. They see rewards for criminal activities. What do we expect them to do? Study for 7 or 8 years to become doctors or engineers? The short-cuts provided by this corrupt government are much more appealing!

[cyppok]

You are entering the Russia/Ukraine in the 90s stage. Welcome people to the new normal.

Now the most important key during this stage is not knowledge or production, capital is somewhat important but you could do without. Racketeering requires brute force and the ability to lead men. A force of will and character and cruelty ofcourse also weapons would be nice to have for enforcement. Capital is necessary in the beginning to bribe officials until you get strong enough that bribes become secondary to the 'protection' and electability you can have directly or indirectly via 'your' electorate.

However, you are not there yet. Still need the credit system to lock down periodically to vaporize liquidity and the ability to move around.
[a hint of truth in every joke]

This is actually a very interesting time in SA, perhaps next to strike will be Transnet and Eskom. But I digress a bit.
Everything that you thought was impossible is becoming possible to a certain degree. Good and bad. I am certain there will be at least a few small warlords that will control access to their territory and "toll" roads for real like it was in Russia. Very simple to do and effective. Block roads with bought off cops, tax the cargo by swooping in, hire 'soldiers', expand fiefdom.

Most important after petroleum will be food distribution ergo trucks with prepared white corn for mass consumption.

Blurock I am going to burst your bubble a bit. What was criminal yesterday will be legal once you are elected after your warlord stint. Timoshenko the "democratic lady" of Ukraine stole about 400-600 million dollars in 90s-2000s via UES(United Energy Systems) her accomplice(Lazorenko) was sent to jail but they(U.S. and Ukraine at the time) decided not to go after her due to political affiliations most people in gov't are either former thieves, enforcers, or self-made. Few from the old guard. After she went into politics all of it became legitimized. Lots of others are worse to be honest. Donetsk group that is now in power is an actual crime organization (my opinion is they are still better than Yushenko's nationalist) but anyways.

You will enjoy something similar very violent in beginning though. Unless you are the warlord of course. Lots of unemployed people ready and willing to earn their keep.

[adrianh]

So now our dumba$$ friends threw stones at a truck on the N2 causing the truck to overturn. The R300 / N2 link is closed becuase of this this.

Viva... BANANA REPUBLIC.