CASE STUDY

READ THE CASE STUDY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW:

STRIKES IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is used to workers dowling tools and taking industrial action. Strikes are normal in a democracy but they can be economically consequential, especially if prolonged. The strike that took place in May $2018$ inconvenienced commuters. The strike was prolonged for a period of $4$ weeks as drivers pressed for better pay. Below is a list of five other major strikes that have been staged in South Africa post$-$democracy.

$2007$ PUBLIC SERVANTS STRIKE

Hundreds of thousands of public servants embarked on a four$-$week strike, affecting schools and hospitals in particular. The strike lasted $28$ days as unions representing workers demanded a $12$ percent wage increase. They eventually settied for $7\mathrm{.}5$ percent.

$2010$ PUBLIC SERVANTS STRIKE

In July and August $2010$ public servants across the country downed tools. Unions representing $1\mathrm{.}3$ million workers demanded an $8\mathrm{.}6-$percent pay increase and a monthly housing allowance of R$1000$ backdated to $1$ April $2010.$ Both parties eventually agreed on a $7\mathrm{.}5$ percent increase. The three$-$week strike was estimated to have cost the economy $R1$ billion a day.

$2012$ MARIKANA STRIKE

The massacre resulted from a wildcat strike at a mine owned by Lonmin in the Marikana area of North West. On $16$ August $2012,34$ men were shot and killed in clashes between rival mineworkers and $39$ unions and the police. The first protests were staged on about $10$ August $2012.$ By the time the violent strike ended in September, an estimated $45$ people had been killed.

$2014$ PLATINUM BELT STRIKE

On $23$ January $2014,$ almest $70,000$ platinum$-$mine workers went on strike. Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union $($AMCU$)$ at Lonmin, Impala Platinum, and Anglo American Platinum downed tools, demanding a monthly basic salary of R$12500.$ The strike was the longest work stoppage in South Africa's history. It continued for five months and cost workers earnings of around R$10\mathrm{.}6$ million. The industry lost R$24$ billion in revenue.

$2016$ PIKITUP STRIKE

Refuse$-$removal workers in Johannesburg downed tools in March $2016.$ Garbage went largely uncollected in the city for weeks and pilled up$,$ causing a health hazard. The illegal strike eventually ended after $23$ days when unions and the company reached a wage agreement.

$1\mathrm{.}1$ in reference to the provided case study, identify and explain the underlying reasons for strike action in the south african labour force.