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> Working conditions are so dire that the temp workers can’t offer suggestion on working conditions, conditions that would help Amazon integrate better automati
by dunpeal 8y ago
> Working conditions are so dire that the temp workers can’t offer suggestion on working conditions, conditions that would help Amazon integrate better automation in their current system, and make paying workers more comfortably more sensical.
Not sure I follow.
From reading articles about it, the "working conditions" are "dire" because Amazon can press workers to work very hard (fill quotas) in large warehouses that are barely suitable for human habitation.
Both of these are related to Amazon squeezing pennies out of employees/contractors who have zero leverage.
The problem isn't that these employees can't offer "suggestions". Amazon knows very well that if it lowered quotas, allowed more breaks, and added air-conditioning to warehouses, working conditions will improve.
It doesn't do these things because these employees have zero leverage so Amazon makes more money by not offering these improvements.
- bertil 8y agoI don't think we disagree, but I'm not sure I get where you want to take this discussion.
- dunpeal 8y agoMy point is that it's not some trivial issue of Amazon "not listening", or anything else that is easy to fix. The fundamental problem is that unskilled labor is very low value, and as automation increases, will get even lower.