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I'd think the opposite. When I'm physically with people I can form groups, picket offices, go on strike. If I'm a remote worker I'm much more easily replaced an

I'd think the opposite. When I'm physically with people I can form groups, picket offices, go on strike. If I'm a remote worker I'm much more easily replaced and there isn't much I can do about it.

UnpossibleJim 6y ago
Hasn't this been one of the major problems with unionization in the tech world, is that so many jobs in the tech sector can, in theory, be off shored if the headache becomes too large (among others - being notoriously difficult to unionize college graduate jobs in general, for some reason). Even for non remote workers, picketing offices and going on strike doesn't seem to be a true option in practice, even if it is an option in theory.
TeMPOraL 6y ago
I wonder if and when we'll see remote unions appearing. Forming a group and going on strike is easy - perhaps easier - in a remote setting. Picketing offices could be done by overloading the company VPN, and DDoSing the company Exchange server would be the equivalent of a harder "picketing inside the plant, preventing work" strike.
- bumby 6y ago
  >overloading the company VPN, and DDoSing the company This is illegal in most countries, no? I don't believe picketing is illegal as long as certain conditions are met (not blocking egress, etc.)
  - nybble41 6y ago
    Yes, DDoS would be illegal in most countries. Picketing in the sense of peaceably assembling on public property outside the business and not harassing innocent bystanders or blocking egress or ingress of workers, customers, or suppliers would generally be fine. The online equivalent would probably be something like posting your complaints on social media.
- easterncalculus 6y ago
  Deliberately sending traffic with the explicit desire to cut off service is definitely not a "strike", that's 100% criminal. If you're not an employee, DDoS is already a crime. Why would it not be if you work there? It's one thing to not show up as part of a strike, it's another to make life harder for those that do and commit computer crime.

I'd think the opposite. When I'm physically with people I can form groups, picket offices, go on strike. If I'm a remote worker I'm much more easily replaced and there isn't much I can do about it.

UnpossibleJim 6y ago

Hasn't this been one of the major problems with unionization in the tech world, is that so many jobs in the tech sector can, in theory, be off shored if the headache becomes too large (among others - being notoriously difficult to unionize college graduate jobs in general, for some reason). Even for non remote workers, picketing offices and going on strike doesn't seem to be a true option in practice, even if it is an option in theory.

TeMPOraL 6y ago

I wonder if and when we'll see remote unions appearing. Forming a group and going on strike is easy - perhaps easier - in a remote setting. Picketing offices could be done by overloading the company VPN, and DDoSing the company Exchange server would be the equivalent of a harder "picketing inside the plant, preventing work" strike.

bumby 6y ago
>overloading the company VPN, and DDoSing the company This is illegal in most countries, no? I don't believe picketing is illegal as long as certain conditions are met (not blocking egress, etc.)
- nybble41 6y ago
  Yes, DDoS would be illegal in most countries. Picketing in the sense of peaceably assembling on public property outside the business and not harassing innocent bystanders or blocking egress or ingress of workers, customers, or suppliers would generally be fine. The online equivalent would probably be something like posting your complaints on social media.
easterncalculus 6y ago
Deliberately sending traffic with the explicit desire to cut off service is definitely not a "strike", that's 100% criminal. If you're not an employee, DDoS is already a crime. Why would it not be if you work there? It's one thing to not show up as part of a strike, it's another to make life harder for those that do and commit computer crime.