3 ms·

I'm sure you'll get downvoted to kingdom come, but I actually checked out the included links - interesting stuff

by rayvy 8y ago

crankylinuxuser 8y ago
> I'm sure you'll get downvoted to kingdom come, but I actually checked out the included links - interesting stuff Oh, indeed I shall. Still, we're sold a bundle of goods by the capitalists that "unions are evil" and et cetera, yet when when it is advantageous to the very capitalists, they form unions of their own to hold down the very workers' wages. Now, some unions do indeed suck. They were ineffective and only lacklusterly fought for employee rights. Yet, many demanded fair compensation and safe working conditions. And with companies forming unions, are pushing both of those down. Look at FAANG on glassdoor and news websites. They're no rosy pictures, unless you're in ML at the top. But that price bump is just temporary. It'll come down in time. What I'd hope is that tech realizes that the capitalists are treating us IT people as yet more line workers. Where once we had rooms, they dissolved to cubicles. From cubicles, we only wish we had them as now it is "open office" concepts. Insurance premiums keep going up, and compensation keeps lowering. And with more automation, the demand for more work skyrockets. 'Fire 2 and let the 3rd take over'. Ive read those stories again and again. IT needs unions, now more than ever. It is the only counteracting force when 'They' (capitalists) are indeed out to get us.
- Arbalest 8y ago
  I think for organisations such a thing is called a cartel. Cartels are usually illegal, but only ever get noticed on the sale side, and some are downright legalised (eg OPEC).
  - GeneralMayhem 8y ago
    I don't think calling OPEC "legal" is particularly meaningful, considering the entities participating in the cartel are nation-states.
- Aeolun 8y ago
  They are not out to get you. They’re just doing what makes most sense for them.
- refurb 8y ago
  It's less about capitalism and more about people just lining their own pockets. It's human nature. It's not like unions aren't susceptible to the same thing. [1] [1]http://nlpc.org/2018/01/18/top-ten-union-corruption-stories-year-8/ http://nlpc.org/2018/01/18/top-ten-union-corruption-stories-...
- thepp1983 8y ago
  Also as I previously replied to your original statement capitalism != corporatism. The large tech companies should have been broken up about 5 years ago. The only reason that any of us have job is because capitalists in the 70s and 80s popularised computers so they were small enough and low enough in price for anyone to own. It really pains me that most are completely ignorant of anything that happened in computing before the mid-90s. Regulation and Unions help corporations because it makes it raises the bar of difficultly for startups to enter any market. As for working environment. I work from home and I freelance. I run a high end modern workstation with dual 4k screens, a nice sound system for music and my choice of caffeinated beverages. If you don't want to be a slave to the man, work for yourself.

I'm sure you'll get downvoted to kingdom come, but I actually checked out the included links - interesting stuff

by rayvy 8y ago

I'm sure you'll get downvoted to kingdom come, but I actually checked out the included links - interesting stuff

> I'm sure you'll get downvoted to kingdom come, but I actually checked out the included links - interesting stuff Oh, indeed I shall. Still, we're sold a bundle of goods by the capitalists that "unions are evil" and et cetera, yet when when it is advantageous to the very capitalists, they form unions of their own to hold down the very workers' wages. Now, some unions do indeed suck. They were ineffective and only lacklusterly fought for employee rights. Yet, many demanded fair compensation and safe working conditions. And with companies forming unions, are pushing both of those down. Look at FAANG on glassdoor and news websites. They're no rosy pictures, unless you're in ML at the top. But that price bump is just temporary. It'll come down in time. What I'd hope is that tech realizes that the capitalists are treating us IT people as yet more line workers. Where once we had rooms, they dissolved to cubicles. From cubicles, we only wish we had them as now it is "open office" concepts. Insurance premiums keep going up, and compensation keeps lowering. And with more automation, the demand for more work skyrockets. 'Fire 2 and let the 3rd take over'. Ive read those stories again and again. IT needs unions, now more than ever. It is the only counteracting force when 'They' (capitalists) are indeed out to get us.

Arbalest 8y ago
I think for organisations such a thing is called a cartel. Cartels are usually illegal, but only ever get noticed on the sale side, and some are downright legalised (eg OPEC).
- GeneralMayhem 8y ago
  I don't think calling OPEC "legal" is particularly meaningful, considering the entities participating in the cartel are nation-states.
Aeolun 8y ago
They are not out to get you. They’re just doing what makes most sense for them.
refurb 8y ago
It's less about capitalism and more about people just lining their own pockets. It's human nature. It's not like unions aren't susceptible to the same thing. [1] [1]http://nlpc.org/2018/01/18/top-ten-union-corruption-stories-year-8/ http://nlpc.org/2018/01/18/top-ten-union-corruption-stories-...
thepp1983 8y ago
Also as I previously replied to your original statement capitalism != corporatism. The large tech companies should have been broken up about 5 years ago. The only reason that any of us have job is because capitalists in the 70s and 80s popularised computers so they were small enough and low enough in price for anyone to own. It really pains me that most are completely ignorant of anything that happened in computing before the mid-90s. Regulation and Unions help corporations because it makes it raises the bar of difficultly for startups to enter any market. As for working environment. I work from home and I freelance. I run a high end modern workstation with dual 4k screens, a nice sound system for music and my choice of caffeinated beverages. If you don't want to be a slave to the man, work for yourself.