Anglo American Platinum fired 12,000 striking miners

[cratehorus]

[Autumnlicious]

Yes, yes. Work you ignorant peasants and to hell with your right to protest!

You're interrupting the big boy's salaries! After all, they deserve it uninterrupted for their back breaking labor and zero tolerance to mistakes while running the company!

Oh wait...

No zero tolerance for any business mistake and no hard labor? Well, I guess the protesters are interrupting their right to rest easy. We can't have that, now can we?

[Annik]

This is why we have unions (although they have their flaws).

[Autumnlicious]

A unions chief flaw is their sticking power, which invites corruption and abuse.

[Annik]

A unions chief flaw is their sticking power, which invites corruption and abuse.

I'm aware of that issue, but I don't feel I'm educated enough on the topic to discuss it at any length. I'll have to work some Google-Fu when my homework is done with.

[Autumnlicious]

Many Unions also take a form of hierarchical structure that they're protesting against.

Any hierarchical structure, according to Valve Software (I've got their employee handbook), is prone to members indulging in "rent seeking behaviors" that only ensure their position as well as hiring lesser skilled lackies who will not challenge them.

While I don't see every hierarchical structure mutating into abuse as an absolute, I do note stagnation can and will take place when you stop focusing on providing value and focus on your own returns.

Again, any organization is prone to corruption and inefficiency. Unions included.

[Minimalist]

Whatever flaws the unions may have do not come close to the flaws of these corporate scumbags.

[Tiberius]

My opinion on this is mixed. I don't think workers should have a right to "strike"; it goes against the entire point of signing a contract. I think there should be ways of getting companies to agree to improving conditions without having to resort to such measures. However, this company's action in firing all 12,000 of them is ridiculous, given that they will most likely lose a lot of money trying to find other people to replace them.

[Autumnlicious]

Usually though, when a Union is required, it is because the business entity has breached the good faith part of which all contracts are signed on...

Happy productive workers don't usually demand a union -- angry ones without recourse to better treatment do.

[popeyespappy]

I don't think workers should have a right to "strike"; it goes against the entire point of signing a contract.

Unions don't strike when they have a contract. They strike between contracts when the company won't agree to the contract terms the union is requesting.

I think there should be ways of getting companies to agree to improving conditions without having to resort to such measures.

Such as?

However, this company's action in firing all 12,000 of them is ridiculous, given that they will most likely lose a lot of money trying to find other people to replace them.

So agreeing to terms that would cause an even larger long term lose is a good idea for a business?