Let me start by saying that it is within the rights of the labour movements to go on strike if employers do not seem to want to treat any of its members fairly.|
However, I get disturbed when I see how destructive some strike actions turn out to be. It cannot be right that members are allowed to destroy public property during a strike. This kind of behaviour is self- defeating in that we cannot demand service and better living conditions and, at the same time, destroy whatever means there are to deliver service or improve the lives of our people.
I do not mean to sound unsympathetic to the frustrations of train commuters as an example but how can the burning of trains assist in making them punctual? We may think we are registering our frustrations through these barbaric actions but the truth of the matter is that such acts do not advance the cause of transformation.
It is a vicious circle; as you spend to deliver or improve service, you destroy the gains you’ve made.
Yesterday was even more disturbing when I saw school kids setting classrooms alight. Such lunacy should be criminalised. But, I’d venture to say that the chickens have indeed come home to roost, kids see us adults destroy public property in order to register our labour related frustrations; they in turn destroy schools and libraries to register their issues.
By all means, let us go on mass actions but let us do so in a responsible manner.
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