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I've seen this argument around quite often, but it feels more and more like the product of the Amazon PR machine. It appears that in at least some cases wages f
by Jochim 6y ago
I've seen this argument around quite often, but it feels more and more like the product of the Amazon PR machine. It appears that in at least some cases wages for warehouse workers fell 30%[0] once Amazon opened it's warehouses. Amazon seems to be dragging warehouse wages down to $15 rather than up.
[0] https://www.economist.com/united-states/2018/01/20/what-amazon-does-to-wages https://www.economist.com/united-states/2018/01/20/what-amaz...
- AnthonyMouse 6y agoThe Amazon jobs aren't forklift drivers. The wages of forklift drivers go down because Amazon automates a lot of that work, which means there is less demand for forklift drivers. It's the classic automation story and has basically nothing to do with what they pay to pickers.
- Jochim 6y agoThe data in the economist article is for both forklift drivers and pickers. It seems fairly clear that even lower skilled warehouse workers are being paid less than they were before Amazon entered their market. The fact that automation is both reducing the number and quality of jobs probably merits discussion as well. We simply don't have anything in place to ensure automation doesn't ruin people's standard of living.
- AniseAbyss 6y agoBuilding an economy on unskilled labour is a pretty bad idea. Anything that can be automated or outsourced WILL- capitalism demands it.