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I read the article expecting to see terrible actions by Amazon fighting the union. Instead the article was about the Teamsters union convincing local governmen

by zugi 4y ago

I read the article expecting to see terrible actions by Amazon fighting the union. Instead the article was about the Teamsters union convincing local governments to block Amazon from opening buildings, and Amazon "fighting back" by increasing their hiring of needy ex-cons and minorities from local colleges, ending their marijuana drug tests, and otherwise working to ingratiate themselves with their comminities. The Teamsters don't come out looking like the good guys...

dotopotoro 4y ago
They seem to be very positive influence on amzn
- zugi 4y ago
  Nice, that's a good way to look at it!
mechanical_bear 4y ago
> The Teamsters don't come out looking like the good guys... This is often the case.
- mjthrowaway1 4y ago
  No need to downvote this. Long history of documented corruption.
  - garyfirestorm 4y ago
    Add UAW to that list.
panny 4y ago
>I read the article expecting to see terrible actions by Amazon fighting the union. >Instead the article was about Yeah, it's a bait and switch designed to attract Amazon haters with the headline and then convince them Amazon is the good guy in the content. Seems like it worked really well based on comments here. I'm sure vox will be duely rewarded by their Amazon overlords.
beloch 4y ago
"the memo proposed that Amazon should create and foster partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations that company officials hoped would “provide political cover for local policymakers, neutralize organized labors’ attempts to grow their coalition of third-party validators and spokespeople, and provide a platform for Amazon spokespeople and allies to speak of the true economic and social impact of Amazon in Southern California.” It's an isolate and destroy campaign. Hiring students and ex-inmates (who will both probably tolerate more exploitation than average employees without speaking up), does not impact Amazon's bottom line nearly as much as unionized workers would. If enough people wind up thinking Amazon provides a net benefit to the communities it operates in then it will help silence those who want unions, tax reforms, or just less corporate welfare. The teamsters don't look bad so much as they appear to have been badly outplayed by a smart opponent.
- socialistnutjob 4y ago
- adriand 4y ago
  It’s also so incredibly cynical. They aren’t supporting these organizations because it’s the right thing to do. It’s just a means to an end, namely preventing workers from organizing. I wonder how many people who called out Amazon’s supposedly enlightened actions as unlikely to be altruistic or genuine were accused of being conspiracy theorists.
  - xyzzyz 4y ago
    It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages.
    - zugi 4y ago
      Unexpected Adam Smith - nice! And even apart from questions of economic systems, second-guessing peoples' motives is almost never productive.
SEJeff 4y ago
Not saying unions are bad per se, but Teamsters are the bad guys in my experience.
iroh2727 4y ago
It's not about Amazon's terrible actions fighting the union. It's about Amazon's exploitative labor practices, the day-to-day oppression that warehouse workers have to deal with. Also, let's not forget that Amazon has unlimited funds to cover up and distract from their misdoings while the Teamsters do not. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-workers-protest-unsafe-grueling-conditions-warehouse https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-wo... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amazon-used-neonazi-guards-to-keep-immigrant-workforce-under-control-in-germany-8495843.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amazon-used-... https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/04/27/amaz-a27.html https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/04/27/amaz-a27.html
- smegger001 4y ago
  the teamsters union isn't exactly a small underdog with no funding either.
  - sgift 4y ago
    Compared to Amazon? Yes, they are.
    - chimineycricket 4y ago
      you could say that to mean the money power of anyone/anything, what's the point in doing that
rayiner 4y ago
Using hiring minorities to fight unionization—which could result in far better wages and benefits for those minorities—is terrible. It’s also a textbook example of woke capitalism in action: https://www.amazon.com/Woke-Inc-Corporate-Americas-Justice/dp/1546090789 https://www.amazon.com/Woke-Inc-Corporate-Americas-Justice/d.... The fact they put this

by zugi 4y ago

dotopotoro 4y ago

They seem to be very positive influence on amzn

zugi 4y ago
Nice, that's a good way to look at it!

mechanical_bear 4y ago

> The Teamsters don't come out looking like the good guys... This is often the case.

mjthrowaway1 4y ago
No need to downvote this. Long history of documented corruption.
- garyfirestorm 4y ago
  Add UAW to that list.

panny 4y ago

>I read the article expecting to see terrible actions by Amazon fighting the union. >Instead the article was about Yeah, it's a bait and switch designed to attract Amazon haters with the headline and then convince them Amazon is the good guy in the content. Seems like it worked really well based on comments here. I'm sure vox will be duely rewarded by their Amazon overlords.

beloch 4y ago

"the memo proposed that Amazon should create and foster partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations that company officials hoped would “provide political cover for local policymakers, neutralize organized labors’ attempts to grow their coalition of third-party validators and spokespeople, and provide a platform for Amazon spokespeople and allies to speak of the true economic and social impact of Amazon in Southern California.” It's an isolate and destroy campaign. Hiring students and ex-inmates (who will both probably tolerate more exploitation than average employees without speaking up), does not impact Amazon's bottom line nearly as much as unionized workers would. If enough people wind up thinking Amazon provides a net benefit to the communities it operates in then it will help silence those who want unions, tax reforms, or just less corporate welfare. The teamsters don't look bad so much as they appear to have been badly outplayed by a smart opponent.

socialistnutjob 4y ago
adriand 4y ago
It’s also so incredibly cynical. They aren’t supporting these organizations because it’s the right thing to do. It’s just a means to an end, namely preventing workers from organizing. I wonder how many people who called out Amazon’s supposedly enlightened actions as unlikely to be altruistic or genuine were accused of being conspiracy theorists.
- xyzzyz 4y ago
  It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages.
  - zugi 4y ago
    Unexpected Adam Smith - nice! And even apart from questions of economic systems, second-guessing peoples' motives is almost never productive.

SEJeff 4y ago

Not saying unions are bad per se, but Teamsters are the bad guys in my experience.

iroh2727 4y ago

It's not about Amazon's terrible actions fighting the union. It's about Amazon's exploitative labor practices, the day-to-day oppression that warehouse workers have to deal with. Also, let's not forget that Amazon has unlimited funds to cover up and distract from their misdoings while the Teamsters do not. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-workers-protest-unsafe-grueling-conditions-warehouse https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-wo... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amazon-used-neonazi-guards-to-keep-immigrant-workforce-under-control-in-germany-8495843.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amazon-used-... https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/04/27/amaz-a27.html https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/04/27/amaz-a27.html

smegger001 4y ago
the teamsters union isn't exactly a small underdog with no funding either.
- sgift 4y ago
  Compared to Amazon? Yes, they are.
  - chimineycricket 4y ago
    you could say that to mean the money power of anyone/anything, what's the point in doing that

rayiner 4y ago

Using hiring minorities to fight unionization—which could result in far better wages and benefits for those minorities—is terrible. It’s also a textbook example of woke capitalism in action: https://www.amazon.com/Woke-Inc-Corporate-Americas-Justice/dp/1546090789 https://www.amazon.com/Woke-Inc-Corporate-Americas-Justice/d.... The fact they put this