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In Terry Bell's column “Inside Labour: Why the Canada firefighters went on strike", he notes that firefighting should never be in the hands of private companies. At issue, he pointed out, is the fact that private companies are in the business of making a profit.
The firefighters, sent to the Alberta province to help counter a massive wildfire blaze, stopped work when they realised they were being paid nearly 70% less than their Canadian counterparts. They promptly laid down their hoses and implements.
In Alberta, that minimum is $11.20 an hour. The South African firefighters, risking their lives doing the same job in the same territory, were being paid a little more than $4 an hour.
Responding to Bell, PJ suggests that the firefighters should have persevered as it could have been a first small step leading to bigger opportunities. He writes:
Terry Bell's is a good review of the processes that lead to the return of our Working on Fire team from Canada. At the same time, and given the international exposure, theirs was an intrepid retreat, making it unlikely that a South African firefighting team will be approached to provide international assistance anytime soon.
Our uniformed and vocal team, sent to serve South Africa and help an international country in need, failed to deliver a service and in fact soon became first a predicament and eventually an embarrassment to their host Canada.
Before anyone gets me wrong; I am all for fair compensation, and it could have been justified to lodge a complaint or initiate grievance procedures to address the problem, perceived or otherwise, once the firefighters had performed their task, the fires had been brought under control and they were back on home ground.
After all, no worker was forced to travel to Canada, and everyone personally signed a binding work contract before they boarded the flight, right? And they received R750 on top of their daily salary, right? And they did not have to pay for their International flights, or for lodging and meals, right? Maybe they forgot that there is unemployment everywhere, also in Europe, and one can imagine that in an emergency situation could potentially recruit 2000+ students or young refugees for a short working trip to Canada within a day or two, regardless of the compensation, but this is a topic for another day.
Life is unfair, and it becomes even more unfair across international borders. We have no choice but to live with it. Salaries in Johannesburg are higher than in Maseru, and salaries in Maseru are higher than in Harare. In Europe, salaries are higher in London than they are in Rome, and higher in Berlin than they are in London.
But ultimately some people are lucky enough to be given a choice: do I want employment, and am I prepared to accept the salary offered? Having to choose between no work, or working for a modest salary may be tough, but it is still your choice. Millions of fellow South Africans were given this opportunity and made the choice, deciding to work. Sadly, millions more were not even given the option, as there is no work for them. Yes, times are tough. But, some of those who started working on a small salary did the job so well that they were rewarded with permanent employment. But you first do the job, and then negotiate the remuneration. And the only place to start is at the bottom.
But you also have the choice to spend your time and energy joining another strike action, or by suing your employer in a labour court, with loud applause from Cosatu. But you're unlikely to get a job this way - maybe someone should research how many jobs were created under Cosatu's guidance, and how many were destroyed in one way or another.
So, fellow South Africans, next time you receive the opportunity to work, here at home or internationally, do the job so well that you are invited again. Not only will you do South Africa proud, but you will open the door for others to follow. This way we can build a better South Africa, while for you personally; this may be the first small step that leads to other opportunities.
Sadly, my expectations are that Working on Fire will not be invited to perform their songs, or anything else, internationally soon. We all lost an opportunity.
* Add your voice or just drop Terry a labour question. Follow Terry on twitter @telbelsa.
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