Strikes

In France, if people are unhappy with some decision, their salaries, or something like that they just go on strike.  In the education sector this seems a little bit selfish.  I understand people in a factory that organize a labor strike, but when it comes to educating the youth it has more negative effects than positive effects.  It would be one thing if this did not happen often, but today did not mark the first time this happened.  Today there was a strike for teachers in the department, yet there was still school.  Because teachers lose pay if they go on strike, some do not observe the strikes and continue as if nothing were going on.  For me that meant that instead of three classes this afternoon I only taught two because one of the teachers did not come to school so her class was not there either.  I found out that kids in elementary school who have parents that work go to daycare when their teachers go on strike.  Not only is this a ridiculous waste of resources, but also this seems to me like it is really hurting the kids in the end.  While the teachers are trying to make known how they feel about an issue, they are also punishing the kids by taking away precious education time.  In elementary school in France, the kids only go to school four days a week so to lose another day makes a huge difference.  I just find it somewhat selfish and counterproductive to do this as an educator.  Sure its nice to have a day off, but they only work four days a week as it is.  France, you get a big "Come on Man!" for this one.