Well yeah, try to imagine a world where strikes would cause disruptions. The threat of a strike could be used as some sort of bargaining chip. We can't have that. In a perfect world, no one should even notice when a strike is on-going. Those pampered union workers have been getting a free ride for long enough, I say! "The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde
28.2. Se reconoce el derecho a la huelga de los trabajadores para la defensa de sus intereses. La Ley que regule el ejercicio de este derecho establecerá las garantías precisas para asegurar el mantenimiento de los servicios esenciales de la comunidad.
28.2. The right of workers to strike in defence of their interests is recognised. The law regulating the exercise of this right will establish the necessary guarantees to ensure the maintenance of services essential to the community.
After that, (local) governments quite rapidly designated most tasks as "essential services" - essentially undermining the right to strike. And it is still happening. So the slippery slope nightmare has already occurred here. Although it seemingly has not really hindered the recent strikes - largest strikes in a decade...
Cosatu, the biggest union in SA, and other unions are now apparently working on a compromise, the British model: to recognise essential services, but to keep them running on a skeleton staff during strikes. Most government levels are loathe to sign the new agreement, though.
Seems to me that once an "essential service" anti-strike law has been put in place it can in potential be abused easily by a government.
