On May 28, 6:24*pm, disgoftunwells wrote:

Normally, if you end up with an intransigent work force, you could
build up stock, determine that strikers have resigned, and recruit new
staff. You can't build stock in a service industry so it's not an
option. So management have no choice but to give in to ever more
extreme demands.

The circumstances are somewhat different, but during an illegal strike
on the Glasgow Subway in 2002, SPT sacked 32 (of 45) drivers, and it
seems at some point were considering shutting the service for three
months while they trained new staff [1]. In the end, they re-hired
them all, but under terms more favourable to the employer [2].

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2413407.stm
[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2429645.stm