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Can't wait to see how awesome the work environment will be for these couriers! Probably much like Uber's drivers: under constant pressure to meet a quota (in th

Can't wait to see how awesome the work environment will be for these couriers! Probably much like Uber's drivers: under constant pressure to meet a quota (in this case, probably minimizing the number of missed 1 hour marks), and if you're injured/hit/cause an accident, it's on you and the employer will be nowhere to be found.

gfodor 12y ago
And like uber drivers, one day you will wake up and find your job replaced by a robot.
- Shivetya 12y ago
  or blocked by a politician who is merely showing concern for oppressed workers, small business, and of course for the children
digikata 12y ago
More like Amazon's warehouse workers with constant countdown clocks, except on the open road. Which sounds like a potential hazard for other drivers.
driverdan 12y ago
If they don't like it they can quit.
- Nacraile 12y ago
  We tech folk would do well to remember that relatively few people have the good fortune of working in a labour market where demand outstrips supply. Being able to just quit with a comfortable buffer in the savings account and confidence that a better option is just around the corner is a rare privilege. In a market where there is an oversupply of labour, a free-market race to the bottom results in significant suffering over a large number of workers while benefitting a small number of the already-wealthy. It is difficult to view this as a socially desirable outcome.
philwelch 12y ago
Ever ordered a pizza? 1 hour delivery doesn't come close to any kind of realistic safety margin.
- digikata 12y ago
  That depends: is the average distance between Amazon warehouses and recipients higher than the distance between a neighborhood pizza shop and it's customers?
  - philwelch 12y ago
    Well 1 hour delivery leaves at least 15-20 minutes to actually cook the pizza. I suspect the fact that they're doing this one a few limited parts of Manhattan indicates that they have some kind of courier depots especially for this.

gfodor 12y ago

And like uber drivers, one day you will wake up and find your job replaced by a robot.

Shivetya 12y ago
or blocked by a politician who is merely showing concern for oppressed workers, small business, and of course for the children

digikata 12y ago

More like Amazon's warehouse workers with constant countdown clocks, except on the open road. Which sounds like a potential hazard for other drivers.

driverdan 12y ago

If they don't like it they can quit.

Nacraile 12y ago
We tech folk would do well to remember that relatively few people have the good fortune of working in a labour market where demand outstrips supply. Being able to just quit with a comfortable buffer in the savings account and confidence that a better option is just around the corner is a rare privilege. In a market where there is an oversupply of labour, a free-market race to the bottom results in significant suffering over a large number of workers while benefitting a small number of the already-wealthy. It is difficult to view this as a socially desirable outcome.

philwelch 12y ago

Ever ordered a pizza? 1 hour delivery doesn't come close to any kind of realistic safety margin.

digikata 12y ago
That depends: is the average distance between Amazon warehouses and recipients higher than the distance between a neighborhood pizza shop and it's customers?
- philwelch 12y ago
  Well 1 hour delivery leaves at least 15-20 minutes to actually cook the pizza. I suspect the fact that they're doing this one a few limited parts of Manhattan indicates that they have some kind of courier depots especially for this.