Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Buses on Strike
Sydney and Newcastle buses are on strike this morning to support the pay rise claim by their maintenance workers. The strike hit hardest at the most vulnerable user groups who are mostly office workers, students and others who do not drive to work, to schools or to university. Worst of all are those students who have to attend examinations. They have to make alternative transport including paying high prices for taxis which they hardly can afford. Above all, the lives of many people have been disrupted by the strike.
A lot of people who own cars do not drive to work. They preferred to take public transport to avoid driving through the heavy traffic. Also they are not in a position to pay the huge parking fees charged by the city car parks. To some extend, these peoples are contributing in their own way to reducing environmental pollution generated by the cars’ exhaust fumes.
Is the plight of these disadvantaged groups taken into consideration when planning for the strike? It is likely that the plight of these people have been used to the advantage of the union in bargaining for a better wage and better working conditions. Incidentally, nurses from two major hospitals are also on strike today to protest against under staffing and to claim for better working condition. Again, it is the sick that will suffer from this strike.
Is there a better way to negotiate for better work condition other than having a strike? Should the employers sitting in their air-conditioned offices pay more attention to the needs of their workers? Can equity and fairness be achieved without disruption?
A lot of people who own cars do not drive to work. They preferred to take public transport to avoid driving through the heavy traffic. Also they are not in a position to pay the huge parking fees charged by the city car parks. To some extend, these peoples are contributing in their own way to reducing environmental pollution generated by the cars’ exhaust fumes.
Is the plight of these disadvantaged groups taken into consideration when planning for the strike? It is likely that the plight of these people have been used to the advantage of the union in bargaining for a better wage and better working conditions. Incidentally, nurses from two major hospitals are also on strike today to protest against under staffing and to claim for better working condition. Again, it is the sick that will suffer from this strike.
Is there a better way to negotiate for better work condition other than having a strike? Should the employers sitting in their air-conditioned offices pay more attention to the needs of their workers? Can equity and fairness be achieved without disruption?
