The public sector workers strike pushes my buttons
6000 reminded me that the strike continues.
I don’t fully agree with the idea of bargaining councils (although I concede that without them some employees would exploit their workers). I don’t fully agree with the idea of a minimum wage (although I concede that without them some employees would exploit their workers).
It annoys me immensely when certain sectors of the economy strike. Specifically the sectors that deal with Health and Education. If some auto factory workers would like to strike cause they want more money, that is another thing entirely than when health workers strike. Someone not getting their brand spanking new car is completely different from someone’s surgery being threatened when the scrub sister and the radiographer were forcibly removed from theater.
Two things come to mind when I hear news like this.
In our economy right now 8.6% amounts to a big increase. I personally know a number of people who have received between 0 and 6% increases for the past 3 years. I have been lucky during the last 3 years and received a nice increase due to a promotion and another due to a significant change in job description, but I fully expect, when increase month rolls around in a month or 3′s time, something lower than what these workers are being offered right now. That alone irritates me.
But add to it the propensity of striking workers in this country to turn violent, and the irritation turns quickly to disgust. That the army has to be called in to calm things down at a hospital, that a school has to employ additional security guards so that teachers from other schools don’t interfere with their students. That people, is unacceptable.
To my mind the purpose of a strike is to let the employer know that you are valuable, that without you things would not work so well, and as a result you are worth more money than you are currently being offered. So by all means don’t show up to work (if you feel you have to strike at all), picket the access roads, make a noise, fine. Shut down your place of work by not being there, not by stopping other people from being there. To intimidate and assault people who have no bearing on your case in any way, that is barbaric (especially if you stop people from receiving medical treatment).
Union leaders should be held accountable for the actions of the union members. If a group of protesting workers interrupt surgery and the patient dies, then we are talking about murder for the people who interrupted the surgery and culpable homicide for those leading them.
Harsh I know, but when is enough enough.
Teachers… Everybody knows that teachers earn crappy salaries. You knew you were going to earn a crappy salary before you became a teacher. You didn’t get into teaching because you want to make a stack of money, you got into teaching for one of two reasons, you wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids, or you had no choice in the matter and it was literally the only thing you could do. So when you don’t like the money… remember it was not about the money to begin with, or if for you it was a last choice thing, well you still don’t have any choice, deal with it.
Hmmmmm….not sure I agree with all your points…but DO agree with most…
I am against striking…firstly its no work no pay and I can’t afford to strike!! But also I DID become a teacher for a greater cause…not coz I wanted to be rich! No teachers at our school have gone on strike (none went on strike last time either). We did stand on roadside before school with placcards to show support tho.
8.6 may be a lot…but when you’re not earning all that much….hmmmm….many manage…mostly because they have a spouse earning a better salary or they are older n have bought a house when prices weren’t so insane. Don and I both teach (he is at a private school)…we have a 4yr degree each and work bloody hard! Teachers deal with insane amounts of stress…many of which the general public will never understand…we do not by any means live extravagantly…yet we are NEVER going to be able to afford to buy a house between the two of us!! And that’s not even throwing the thought of starting a family into the mix
reality of our situation is one of us has to leave teaching…and without being pompous…we are both really good teachers for whom teaching was and is a calling…problem is that we are not respected as professionals…parents believe they know how to teach better than we do…gov keeps interferring and adding stupid admin to an already huge workload…bearing in mind that the admin they require has nothing to do with actual good old fashioned teaching and the person coming up with the ideas hasn’t been in a classroom since the year dot!! A lot of the strike is also about the need to feel appreciated and to be recognised for the important job we do!! This country is seriously lacking teachers…and the ones going into teaching are not ness that great…the ones who SHOULD be teaching won’t because you cannot really survive a good lifestyle on our salaries (and by that I include having insurance, medical aid, a rented roof and possible savings for a rainy day)
After all that tho…I am WHOLE HEARTEDLY against anyone who stops me from exercising my right not to vote…and FULLY agree with you that if a patient dies due to actions of unruly protesters a murder docket should be opened…ppl in this country are very quick to get into a mob mentality and turn violent…those are not the types of ppl that these professions need!! You will find the “good” individuals who are in these jobs for the right reasons are the ones still going in on strike days!
A lengthy essay…n typing off my phone…hope it made sense…
It’s quite interesting for me to witness this as an American. As a private tutor (an educator at heart), I’ve tried to imagine myself in the situation that so many teachers are experiencing. I would most likely feel very conflicted. I’m not sure if a strike is worth jeopardizing the education of children.
Granted, it’s only a couple of days, but one girl informed me last night that matrics are beginning some aspect of their exams on Monday while the teachers are still on strike (I’m not sure exactly what part of the exams; I’m not education lingo savvy in this country yet). I remember when I had to take my big exams. One of the biggest encouragements before walking in that room to take that big, national exam and seeing my teacher one last time and hearing her say, “You guys are going to do great,” and that was one of the biggest confidence boosters for me as I opened my exam book.
The flaming hoops through which today’s educator must jump are certainly unfortunate. These strikes seem to come at an equally unfortunate time, though.
Rachel´s last [type] ..SUSHI!
One of my friends had this to say on facebook the other day, and I thought I’d share it: Spent my friday evening helping a cow give birth to a dead monster calf while human doctors are letting their patients die. Where’s the justice in this?