Strike commotion at Parliament

Mila

Mila

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http://www.fin24.com/Business/Strike-commotion-at-Parliament-20100518

Cape Town - Striking railway workers cheered and sang outside of the gates of Parliament on Tuesday morning as their shop stewards shouted out their demands, which include a 16 percent across the board wage increase.
"Our demands as workers are not unreasonable," United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) general secretary Chris de Vos shouted from a makeshift podium on the back of a bakkie to the group of around 300 protesters.

"We demand a living wage and decent conditions of employment."

About two million commuters were stranded on Tuesday morning after the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), which operates Metrorail, Shosholoza Meyl and the Autopax bus services, was forced to shut down its operations.

Railway services have been paralysed around the country since the start of the strike on Monday.

The parties were to meet at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration's offices on Tuesday morning for further discussions.
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We demand. :erm:
 
It's a fair request.

But yes, it would be nice if they could be a bit less confrontational about it.
 
BBSA said:
:confused:

16 percent across the board wage increase when we are struggling to get out of a recession.

Maybe it is fair when the economy is growing at 8% but surly not now.
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Allow me to clarify. Asking for "a living wage and decent conditions of employment" is a fair request.

And if you can find me a South African parastatal which provides both to the majority of its employees, then you evidently have too much time on your hands.
 
Give them their money already.
At the next strike, immediately give them their money again.
At the next strike, close down the business and the ports.

Don't see the problem really. :rolleyes:
 
grayston said:
Allow me to clarify. Asking for "a living wage and decent conditions of employment" is a fair request.

And if you can find me a South African parastatal which provides both to the majority of its employees, then you evidently have too much time on your hands.
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Agreed. Most parastatals are paying poorly, and recession is a crappy excuse when CEO's etc get such huge salaries and bonuses every year.
 
BBSA said:
:confused:

16 percent across the board wage increase when we are struggling to get out of a recession.

Maybe it is fair when the economy is growing at 8% but surly not now.
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See how fast everybody starts striking for 15% if this is granted.
How happy is your people going to be when you give them a 5% increase this year after this 15% and the muni's got the amount they demanded?
 
grayston said:
Allow me to clarify. Asking for "a living wage and decent conditions of employment" is a fair request.

And if you can find me a South African parastatal which provides both to the majority of its employees, then you evidently have too much time on your hands.
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Considering the actual amount of work that gets done at said parastatals, off the bat I'd say employees are getting more than they're worth (Eskum and Telskommel to mention only 2)

Seriously though... what are they asking for when they demand "decent conditions of employment" that they aren't already getting?
 
McSack said:
Seriously though... what are they asking for when they demand "decent conditions of employment" that they aren't already getting?
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Possibly the right to earn a decent wage without having to work overtime. Which is also a fair request.
 
We have a free labour market in South Africa. They should go and work somewhere else if they believe their skills are more worth than that the parastatals are paying them. Wages should be determined by supply and demand.
 
BBSA said:
We have a free labour market in South Africa. They should go and work somewhere else if they believe their skills are more worth than that the parastatals are paying them. Wages should be determined by supply and demand.
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Kind of assumes you have a transferable skill, doesn't it? How many companies in SA have jobs for train drivers and railway maintenance crews?
 
I somehow doubt they'll get that 16% raise but I'm glad they did this at the gates of Parliament instead of blocking the freeway or trashing the city centre.
 
grayston said:
Kind of assumes you have a transferable skill, doesn't it? How many companies in SA have jobs for train drivers and railway maintenance crews?
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That is how the free market works. If you do not have a transferable skill then you should not be surprised if there is not a high demand for you skills.
 
BBSA said:
If you do not have a transferable skill then you should not be surprised if there is not a high demand for you skills.
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Exactly why people in that position have to go on strike. ;-)
 
BBSA said:
Exactly why it bad for our economy. It create and artificial market which is not based on supply and demand.
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I suppose I could argue that exploiting workers is also bad for the economy. But crucially I think, it's bad for people.
 
grayston said:
I suppose I could argue that exploiting workers is also bad for the economy. But crucially I think, it's bad for people.
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That is unfortunately the reality in a country with some many low skilled workers. Worker should take responsibility for their own education and skills development if they do not want to be exploited.

Another problem is that many of the parastatals have monopolies which also creates less competition in the labour market. It is time for them to get privatised.
 
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