The education service workers strike enters day four today. The question on the lips of some members is how well things will go.
An industrial action is supposed to grind an entire system to a halt. From the sewage system to air conditioning, there must be total shut down. It is the bitting effects of the industrial action that draws the employer to the negotiation table. The four unions in the pre-tertiary education sector (GNAT, NAGRAT, CCT & TEWU) strategically joined forces to strike this time in order to achieve maximum impact. At least, that is what members of all these unions began preaching a long time ago. With TEWU (made up mainly of non-teaching staff) on board, all services including cleaning, driving, cooking and watch-maning are expected to be suspended.
Question is, what is the level of commitment of members of these unions to the fight for better conditions? Time is ticking…