3 ms·

Not applicable. You are conflating a bottom-up problem with a top-down problem. The labor struggle is one that is fought bottom-up. Unless we stand united, the

Not applicable. You are conflating a bottom-up problem with a top-down problem. The labor struggle is one that is fought bottom-up. Unless we stand united, the bosses hold all the cards. A single worker has no power to fix their companies culture, but a united workforce does. This is not applicable to the tall poppy syndrome at all. In fact if you want to find a silly analogy, call it the weak link problem. An almost united workforce will get exploited through the few that aren’t.

refurb 6y ago
And here is the issue with US labor unions. In the name of solidarity you will not: 1) do more work, 2) work more hours, 3) make your job more efficient, etc.
- runarberg 6y ago
  I don’t know where you get (3) no more efficient jobs, but (1) and (2) is actually a good thing. If more work and more hours make your bosses more money, they should pay you more, if they don’t, this work is wasted on making your bosses more money and cheapens the value of the work for the rest of us. If you realize this and stop working overtime, that is also a good thing. More time with your family, at your local chess club, the pub, or in your personal code repos. I think the myth of (3) unions stagnate job efficiency is a result of bad union practices (I don’t know of examples but I’m sure there are plenty) then of solidarity. There is nothing inherent about a union that will make job efficiency stagnate.
  - refurb 6y ago
    By this logic, the union should have all workers slow down. Or at least do the bare minimum to not get fired (oh wait, they won’t get fired because the union won’t allow it). You’re actually helping your fellow workers by making your labor more expensive! This is what folks who worked at GM in Detroit told me. Guys would punch in, then head to the bar. I remember seeing local new coverage with undercover video of these guys being at strip clubs while on the clock. Was going on for years. Here is a more recent example... https://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-for-drinking-back-on-job-against-automake/ https://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-f...

refurb 6y ago

And here is the issue with US labor unions. In the name of solidarity you will not: 1) do more work, 2) work more hours, 3) make your job more efficient, etc.

runarberg 6y ago
I don’t know where you get (3) no more efficient jobs, but (1) and (2) is actually a good thing. If more work and more hours make your bosses more money, they should pay you more, if they don’t, this work is wasted on making your bosses more money and cheapens the value of the work for the rest of us. If you realize this and stop working overtime, that is also a good thing. More time with your family, at your local chess club, the pub, or in your personal code repos. I think the myth of (3) unions stagnate job efficiency is a result of bad union practices (I don’t know of examples but I’m sure there are plenty) then of solidarity. There is nothing inherent about a union that will make job efficiency stagnate.
- refurb 6y ago
  By this logic, the union should have all workers slow down. Or at least do the bare minimum to not get fired (oh wait, they won’t get fired because the union won’t allow it). You’re actually helping your fellow workers by making your labor more expensive! This is what folks who worked at GM in Detroit told me. Guys would punch in, then head to the bar. I remember seeing local new coverage with undercover video of these guys being at strip clubs while on the clock. Was going on for years. Here is a more recent example... https://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-for-drinking-back-on-job-against-automake/ https://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-f...