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I really think we need pro-labour political voices to take a different view on Gig economy jobs. I realize that most activists and politicians see this as part
by dalbasal 9y ago
I really think we need pro-labour political voices to take a different view on Gig economy jobs.
I realize that most activists and politicians see this as part of the "contractor problem." IE many worker rights and protections are built into the permanent employee structure. They see employers shifting work from this structure to less protected structures, like contracting.
I think this is a narrow view. Other employment structures have benefits too. The gig economy is not going to replace the majority of work. It's a segment, like day labour, casual shiftwork, etc.
There are features to the gig economy that benefit different people. For some people, the low barriers to entry, no gatekeeping, no committment features of these gigs are valuable.
There is no reason not to legislate worker protection laws to cover these jobs, as they are. Currently, most pro-labour voices talking about legislation seem to be trying to effectively ban it, and force more conventional labour structures instead. I think this is misguided.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- kasey_junk 9y agoFor many people not having set hours is a tremendous boon. Something I don't think nearly enough people are aware of is the all night daycare. Its a feature of many lower income neighborhoods that is fairly unheard of elsewhere. If the parent gigging means that kids don't have to spend the night away from home, I'd say thats something to be encouraged. TLDR - couldn't agree more. Lets find ways to provide worker protections for the next labor market not the last one.
- maxxxxx 9y agoYou just need flexible and predictable working hours for the benefits you are describing. There is no need for gigging.
- kasey_junk 9y agoOf course, but thats not what the pre-gig market was providing, especially at the lower income space.
- maxxxxx 9y agoI doubt the gig economy will provide that either.
- kasey_junk 9y agoIf the gig economy does not provide for self control of hours then I'd say the central pillar of the gig economy's value proposition to labor is gone and at that point it needs to be readdressed. To date, thats literally the way people are attracted into the gig labor force and is central to what it means to be gigging.
- maxxxxx 9y agoThe control is only there if people have a fallback to making money another way. Once they become more dependent on gigging they will have to do whatever they are told to do. They are easily replaceable cogs that have no market power.
- kasey_junk 9y agoLets say I agreed with you. In what way is that worse than the non-gigging market? If I take a job at a Gap, I am an easily replaceable cog with no market power, I'm dependent on that job and have to do what I'm told, but I can't set my own hours. Regular shifts are virtually non-existent in most low income jobs today. Gigging as it currently exists improves on that.
- maxxxxx 9y ago"Regular shifts are virtually non-existent in most low income jobs today. " This is a really bad trend that gigging will even accelerate.
- lostboys67 9y agoUber style gig jobs are not real self employed contracting what uber et all will do is fuck it up for real self employed contractors when governments bring in new laws