"According to Reuters newswires, the strike had "jolted" the world's gold markets, causing the price of gold to drop by US$2 per ounce last Friday."

Ah, right. A drop in gold supply leading to the inevitable drop in price!

Also, I don't understand the poster's point. This union, like other unions, is taking advantage of high fixed costs to shake someone down for money. Why is this cartel not like all the other cartels?

The employer, like other employers, is taking advantage of pro-corporate government to treat people like shit.

"Pro-corporate"? What does that mean? Anyone can form a corporation. It's like being "Pro-people-who-know-addition." Even if it's true, it's not sinister.

To put this in a bit of context, people in PNG are burying HIV/AIDS infected people alive for lack of proper medical care.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6978421.stm

Sorry, it still bugs me.