Writer's Strike
Out of context: Reply #32
- Started
- Last post
- 41 Responses
- rafalski0
actually think your european example is prime for a more 'civilized' way of taking back what is the sweat of it in the first place. although, South America might be a more atune example.
madirish
(Nov 7 07, 13:44)It probably depends on the way you look at things. I treat work as a deal between adults: the employer has things that he needs done, I do them for a specified amount of money on a daily basis. We have a steady contract. Simple. If I feel underpaid, I go and renegotiate or go somewhere else where they will pay me more if my work is worth it for them. I can arrange with other employees who feel the same to negotiate as a group, that gives us extra leverage and strengtens our negotiation stance. That all seems fair. In a very rare situation, to put extra pressure on the employer, we possibly may go on a strike if we feel strong enough. This gets serious now, because if we don't work, employer loses money, misses deadlines, that could fuck him up and he has way more to lose than we do. In this case, it is understandable for me that we can all get fired and replaced. But in majority of such cases employer would rather negotiate and reach an agreement. Nevertheless I would not expect to be paid for the time we were on strike (unless we negotiate otherwise) and I'd avoid causing them loss. I am not sure how it works in the US, but in EU you cannot lay off people who go on strike and sabotage your business. You have to pay them for the strike. You cannot replace them in order to keep your business running, the law allows them to terrorize you like that. You're stuck with them and they dictate whilst ruining you. It is not a deal between adults, you as an employer have to be a kindergarten for your employees. There are countries like France, where work is not a deal, it is a human right. To fire an employee is a costly procedure, so you're likely to keep an employee even if he doesn't work effectively. That is bad business and French economy reflects that. Now with the new treaty and EU charter of rights coming, it goes towards this direction in all of EU.
I might sound like an ultraconservative to some here, but at least my actions are aligned with my opinions. I have moved to the country with probably the least work protection laws in the old (first 15) EU countries. Ireland used to be a poor country paralyzed by trade unions and high taxes until they came to their senses, held unions back and lowered taxes. This worked amazingly and Irish economy is doing great now. Unemployment is hardly an issue and jobs are way better paid than in a lot of the EU.
I work for a company, so one might think work protection, unions and so on would only be good for me. I say these are bad for the workforce. Easy firing is good, because it means easy hiring. I wrote it many times before, I once got fired in Ireland and jobless as I was I went for a planned trip to Paris. There were thousands on the streets there, protesting against a law that would allow to fire people aged up to 26. I laughed looking at them, because I just got fired with a week's notice, was over 26 and was sure to get a new job soon unlike these poor French fellas who suffered unemployment and fought for a law that would ensure bigger unemployment. It was crazy. I went back to 'capitalist' Ireland and found a better job in no time.The US writers' strike situation however looks ok to me. That's negotiating and a lot of them take a huge risk by taking part in such a forceful move. That seems fair compared to workers terrorizing (mostly state) employers in Europe.