Anglo American Platinum fired 12,000 striking miners

[popeyespappy]

To me, a strike is choosing not to work despite your contractual obligation to do so. In this country, people strike because they want more money or more benefits, despite them signing contracts which set their salaries at certain levels.

That is not the way it usually works on this side of the pond. Take for example the recent teacher's strike in Chicago. They were striking between contracts. Their old contract had run its term and expired, and they had been unable to agree to terms on a new contract with the city. The result was there was no contract in place when the school year began. The teachers elected not to come to work (a decision that resulted in them not being paid by the city) until the two sides agreed to terms. Once an informal agreement had been reached between the two sides the teachers returned to work before the formal contract had been signed.

In this case the main point of contention wasn't even compensation. It was a change the city wanted tying the teacher's performance evaluation to student performance. Something that I can't really blame the teachers for not wanting as you can't teach a child that doesn't want to learn no matter how good you are.