Striking civil servants abandoned their request for a sixteen percent increase and agreed to the government's offer of three. Workers stubbornly held out for six weeks, but have now acquiesced. The government has fired about 1,500 and arrested a couple of union leaders, and it worked.[1]
I cannot criticize these people, not after the valiant effort they put forth, but this can only be classified as a epic defeat for organized labor. The government turned up the heat, and workers backed down.
The government agreed to reinstate fired workers, and to prorate the salary increase so lower-paid workers got a larger share.[2]
The deal is being described as tentative by the union in a face-saving canard.
[1] http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1196&dir=2011/May/Friday27
[2] http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1254&dir=2011/May/Monday30
