Strikes result in economic disruption

SOUTH Africa is entering its “strike season”, as workers from various trades/occupations

“down tools” and strike for higher salaries/wages.

For me, as a “white-collar” worker in the private sector, and who therefore doesn’t engage in strikes for higher salaries/wages, this period certainly irritates me. Why, you may ask?

Well, it’s because it’s usually a period of severe economic disruption that costs the national economy (i.e. you and me) a lot of money – and that’s because of the vast amount of down-time which usually accompanies strike action.

It’s also a period when those who are prepared to get aggressive and demanding surge ahead (earnings/remuneration-wise) of those compliant, law-abiding types, in the private sector, who don’t engage in strikes.

And before anyone says anything, I’m not implying that strikes are illegal – the right to strike is enshrined in our constitution.

But there’s the inconvenience and costs that strike action inevitably causes in ordinary citizens’ lives.

A large-scale and prolonged public sector strike would have a devastating effect on our already floundering economy – it would certainly discourage new investment. Unions appear to have little or no regard for the economy – only for the “pockets” of their members.

Second, the public generally fails to see how continued abovecpi increases will affect their own “pockets”. They will ultimately pay for above-cpi increases by having relatively less buying-power with their after-tax disposable income.

I have little sympathy for striking workers – I was brought up by a father who believed that if one is unhappy in one’s job (with one’s remuneration or with the job itself), one is free to resign and find a job elsewhere – now that’s true economic freedom.

ROBIN MUN-GAVIN

Berea