The Strike Culture

News in Europe seems to be dominated by the "Strike of the Day."

The latest is the Doctor's strike that is ongoing this week in Germany. According to the World Socialist Web Site, 22,000 German doctors (98% of them voted to authorize a work-stoppage) were on strike in several cities last Thursday. I saw a recent study that indicated that Germany's doctors in general were the lowest paid in the "West." They currently earn on average something like 70,000 Euro per year, compared to 140,000 per year for their American counterparts. The Germans are currently seeking a 30% pay increase, but are willing to increase their "official" weekly schedule from 38.5 hours to 42.5 hours per week.

I know that unionization is important in Germany, but what are the benefits? Doctors in America are not unionized, so why are they paid so much better? Individualism and Capitalism seems to be treating doctors in America better than Collective Bargaining and Socialism is in Europe.

Coincidentally, a Public Service Worker strike in Germany now enters its sixth week. Again, this strike seems to be about the implementation of longer work weeks. Meanwhile, uncollected garbage continues to pile up on the streets of many cities. Call me stupid, but I would think that in the face of mounting unemployment (around 12%), the natural tendancy would be to roll up your sleeves, work a little bit harder, and make a few sacrifices. Instead of trying to understand the difficult decisions and concessions that have to be made, the unions reserve their energy toward attacking Hartz IV and Agenda 2010 as threats to the social fabric of Germany.

Meanwhile, France Braces For Mass Protests.

"France braced for mass protests on Saturday against a new employment law as unions said more than 1 million people would march to increase pressure on the government to repeal the measure."

The French "way" seems to include violence. This particular uprising is in protest of the government plan to try to alleviate massive unemployment by making it easier and more flexible for employers to hire workers. The proposed law would allow employers it utilize a 2 year trial period for workers under 26 years old.

"I would say 'no' (to a job offered under the law) because I would have no security for two years," Jerome Desprol, 24, told Reuters

Well then, Mr. Desprol will just have to make due with NO JOB. Apparently, the American attitude of "just give me a chance to prove myself" does not translate to the French job market. Rather, the French message seems to be "just guarantee my job so that I don't have to prove myself."