I heard something shocking today. The four-week-long strike staged by the drivers of the Metrobus company in Johannesburg has still not been resolved. Apparently all drivers currently earn a monthly wage of R7 021, regardless of how many years they have served the company, and this is causing outrage amongst the hard-working Metrobus long-timers. Now, the part of this that I find shocking is not the fact that an agreement has not yet been reached after four weeks. I honestly couldn’t care less, as I live in Pretoria. The part that I find shocking is this:
R7 021! For driving a bus!
I know people with university degrees who earn less than R7 021 a month. Does it take some special skill that I am not aware of to operate the sophisticated piece of equipment which is… the bus? Does driving a bus require some unique, sought-after personality trait, other than being a complete jackass who is under the impression that the first rule of the road is that if a bus wishes to change lanes, it is the responsibility of the driver in the golf next door to get the f*ck out the way?
Now, I am not suggesting that I would like to trade in my cushy job for a chance to spend my days careering around the streets of Johannesburg in a rickety, carbon-monoxide-filled death-trap (wow, I do seem to like my hyphenated words today). I am, after all, a snob. But I do feel that it is a disgrace to complain about earning a meagre 7K a month, while the teacher/ journalist/ designer/ political analyst/ speech therapist/ artist with a DEGREE is earning less than you. What has the world come to? Next thing you know they will be making some moron with a Grade 5 education the leader of our country. Oh wait…
To set the record straight, I am all for people earning their keep and contributing to society, and I would much rather hear that a person aspires to be a bus driver than a car guard (please do not get me started on the pathetic excuse for a human being that is the car guard). I simply believe that there should be balance in all things, and paying the kitchen staff more than the chef just doesn’t sit right with me. There appears to be only one solution: pay those of us who do have an IQ greater than 85, who have spent four years earning our degrees, more than R7 021 a month. Much more. Fair’s fair.
Here here. Death to bus drivers.
It’s not about fairness. It’s actually called the marginal utility of labor.
No way – you’ve studied economics!? That was your point, right?
No, Sir. I have not. I don’t have one of your coveted degrees and my IQ may not extend to your approved levels. And that is my point. A market economy, fortunately (or not), has no such limited prerequisites.
PS. A word of critique, if I may: Overall, a very entertaining site! Perhaps just try to be more open to views/comments from visitors (as I’d presume your ultimate goal is not to detract traffic from the site with sarcasm).
Ha! How ironical – I perceived you threw that jargon in as an attack on the article for using layman’s terms and you were being a pompous “I’ve studied economics and am smarter than you” git. Bygones.
True, the market doesn’t decide what’s fair or not like a judge would. I’d contend three things though:
1. You’re right about journalists, designers, political analysts and artists. They’re oversupplied and therefore the market simply gains less from employing more of them (marginal utility of labour; I’m doing the exposition for other readers), so their salaries are low.
2. Metrobus drivers earn as much as they do because they are municipal employees and can organise themselves. There is no shortage of potential bus drivers. Some have more experience and (the subject of the strike) should be paid relatively more than their juniors, but with a minimum salary notch of R7021, the unjust market (or Putco perhaps) would simply have fired them all if they weren’t prepared to work and if they could be replaced for less than the cost of increasing wages.
3. Doctors, teachers and speech therapists are paid too little because their main employer is the State. The salaries they receive are artificially low and result in a continual shortage of these skilled professionals because the government doesn’t pay what the market requires. And I call it unfair that labour with high marginal utility is not remunerated accordingly. Doctors are a case in point with junior salaries of 8k.
P.S. Glad you’re enjoying the site. I do too
Very good analysis. Indeed, any artificial intervention in a free market perverts its natural functioning, thereby creating these aberrations and destroying wealth.
However, the market naturally attempts to correct itself, compensating for the induced shortages through “black markets.” Not all doctors, teachers etc. are employed by the State. Private schools and hospitals (local and foreign) is an example of this corrective market mechanism, drawing the best talent and paying truer market wages.
Thus, “there appears to be only one solution: [Abolish the State or be better]. Fair’s fair”.
Thank you – much appreciated. You make a fair point (Ha, ha! …Apologies for overusing the theme, my sense of humour is often quite trivial.) but I would hope that improving the State is also an option.
(Then again, who am I kidding? My cautiously pessimistic outlook on life tells me adjustments to make State healthcare more like a market system, where all doctors would probably be paid more and great doctors would earn oodles, are unlikely in my lifetime.)
so ja well no fine.
And yes I do enjoy the comments
Hi! I like your srticle and I would like very much to read some more information on this issue. Will you post some more?
We hate you too.
One of the most influential Businessmen in South Africa is in the Top 100 of SA’s ‘Who’s Who’ and runs one of the biggest Transport Companies. The Drivers (casual) earn R16.00 per hour. Is that fair…..and these guys chauffer people around from Airports and Aircraft Crew to their Hotels and back. Compare this income to a cleaner that works at a ship yard that earns R15.00 per hour. Mr. Steinhoff should be ashamed of accumulating millions on the back of others.