Response to Dmax's 'Strike' Post

Here in Manila it would seem that the strike had mixed results. It is indeed true that oftentimes the ones who bear the brunt of the transport strike are the long-suffering commuters who have nothing to do with the increasing prices of oil and gasoline and other petroleum products.

Sila na gani ang ginabudlayan, madugang pa ang transport strike. hassle...

But before I continue, let us look into the logic of the 'strike' as a weapon of the 'working masses.' The strike was originally conceived in the factories and workhouses as a 'show of force' on the part of the usually disenfranchised and abused workers. The strike is a means to introduce a situation wherein the capitalists shall be forced to bargain with the workers over a certain issue that both sides are arguing over. Indeed, workers have a right to strike and it is also true that the strike has disruptive effects. But this disruption, in my view, is the only means for the workers to air their grievances and get the attention of their employers. A bit Machiavellian, but nevertheless effective.

Applying this concept on the transport sector introduces a host of problems which Dmax has already pointed out in his blog post. The oil executives and the government officials could care less if the drivers would go on strike for eternity. It is the commuters who bear the consequence of this action -- unfortunately for the drivers and transport groups, the ordinary commuter does not hold an influence among the oil companies. The oil companies would blame the invisible and ethereal forces of economics as a reason for the increasing prices, not only of oil and petroleum products, but also other basic commodities. What to do now? declare a strike against economics? against OPEC?

Our nation's transport sector should find new avenues to approach this problem of increasing oil prices. It is clear that suspending operations for several days is not an answer to the greater economic problems besetting our country -- the oil price increase is just symptomatic of this. The fact that here in Quezon City there were some jeepneys still plying their routes despite pleas, even threats directed against them shows that we are all victims of economics -- kailangang bumiyahe dahil walang makakain ang pamilya ng kawawang driver...

The government should not rejoice over the fact that transport strikes have lost their potency. In fact, they should be worried since if our society cannot weather the storms of these turbulent times, the long-suffering Filipino will find ways to make their frustrations, and collective anger known. The 'strike' is one such legal means...I shudder to think of the alternative...