this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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Work Reform

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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

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[–] Chivera@lemmy.world 182 points 1 year ago

Billionaires the original welfare queens.

[–] Shadywack@lemmy.world 169 points 1 year ago (18 children)

What the UAW is doing here is fighting for all workers. This sets precedents that ripple across all industries. What formed the UAW back in 1937 took some balls, and so does this.

It's not communism to fight for dignity and a living wage. We're practically fighting for some more table scraps, but the rich are acting like we're threatening social fabric.

Go and get it Shawn, this is exactly what we all need right now. Support the UAW.

[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 54 points 1 year ago

In the last 20 years, we've seen the most rapid rise in productivity since the industrial revolution, and just like in the wake of the industrial revolution, there was massive worker exploitation that led to reforms and eventually unionization that ushered in a golden age of labor in America where workers were fairly compensated for the work they provided, so much so that it was easy for a salaryman to support a nuclear family on his single paycheck.

Since then, the business owner class has been working hard to dismantle unions while refusing to pay their fair share of the massive profit windfalls to the bottom rung workers. We are long overdue for sweeping multi-industry unionization effort. Only then will we start seeing something more than just table scraps.

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[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 159 points 1 year ago

Fuck yea, love to see militant labor fighting for what they need

[–] nucleative@lemmy.world 137 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Even China knows this. Give the hard working people a better job than mom and dad had and they won't rebel.

The people who are rolling in their next billion have forgotten what happens when you take that away.

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 56 points 1 year ago (2 children)

China is about to find out as well, they have something like a 30% new-grad unemployment rate, and Pooh Bear is on a bootstraps kick saying that social protections encourage laziness.

They're on even thinner ice than the US.

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[–] astral_avocado@lemm.ee 114 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Holy based, I didn't know there were any unions with a backbone left in America

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The UAW has always been pushing for Americans as a whole. Hats off to them.

[–] OwenEverbinde@lemmy.myserv.one 23 points 1 year ago

Yeah, but Fain is the first democratically elected UAW leader (prior leadership was chosen by delegations and was fraught with racketeering and embezzlement) and it shows.

[–] GreenMario@lemm.ee 100 points 1 year ago (3 children)
[–] solstice@lemmy.world 60 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wasn't it that same episode where Rom basically says word for word that he doesn't support unions because one day he might own Quark's bar and then he'll be able to oppress people too? What a great show, some people dislike the ferengi episodes but they're some of my favorites in the series.

[–] zcd@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Who could dislike the Ferengi episodes??

[–] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 27 points 1 year ago

People with the same mindset as Ferengi and who don't like to be called out for their shit.

[–] solstice@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Ikr? Some people hate 'em. They're really goofy and cartoonish so I guess I get it. Profit and Lace is pretty tough to watch. The Magnificent Ferengi is my personal favorite (Iggy Pop guest stars too, what a treat!) And I quote the Rules of Acquisition in real life somewhat regularly, heh

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[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 95 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I vote for wrecking the rich's yachts. There's even a great capitalist reason to do it: the companies that build them might make new sales! Win-win!

[–] clanginator@lemmy.world 44 points 1 year ago (42 children)

When you think about it, at that point at least the rich are spending their money again in order to buy another yacht, actually putting money into the economy.

It's like trickle down economics, but we gotta shoot some holes in the water tower to make it trickle down.

[–] Qwertzwertz@lemmynsfw.com 37 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Building a super yacht means that dozens or hundreds of people work for the benefit of one person. As craftsmen, they could have improved the lives of tens of thousands in their community instead. As engineers, they could have built products serving millions.

Not to mention the natural resources used for one person's benefit.

There's nothing positive about super yachts (and mansions, private jets,...) being built. Don't let the flow of money confuse you.

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[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 26 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is actually an example in The Wealth of Nations; Adam Smith considers whether a hooligan smashing a window is a benefit to society because it creates work for the glazier.

Smith concluded that no, it isn't a net benefit because the glazier could have made a new window instead.

However, given that megayachts are net negative to society, I'm not sure how he'd view this case.

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[–] TwoGems@lemmy.world 37 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Better yet, train orcas to attack yachts!

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Buddy, youre not gonna believe this...

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[–] whitecapstromgard@sh.itjust.works 70 points 1 year ago (4 children)

That's red hot commie stuff right there. I like it :)

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[–] Transcriptionist@lemmy.world 69 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Image Transcription:

X/Twitter post by user Teddy Ostrow @TeddyOstrow reading '"In their economy, workers live paycheck to paycheck while the billionaires buy another yacht... So we're gonna wreck their economy cuz it only works for the billionaire class," says @UAW prez Shawn Fain in Detroit.'

Attached is an image of UAW president Shawn Fain speaking passionately at a targeted strike rally against the Detroit Big Three automakers (General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis).

[I am a human, if I’ve made a mistake please let me know. Please consider providing alt-text for ease of use. Thank you. 💜]

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[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 62 points 1 year ago

I like this Shawn. I really do. He's saying the words and doing the actions. Go Shawn! Go!

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 58 points 1 year ago

The more I hear about this guy, the more I like him.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 56 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Why not? Megacorps and billionaires wreck the economy all the time, and exploit it for their favor.

Why not let the poor and worker class wreck it for once.

Set the whole goddamn thing on fire, and throw the rich into it.

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[–] Saltblue@lemmy.world 54 points 1 year ago

Workers of the world, unite!

[–] FrankTheHealer@lemmy.world 49 points 1 year ago

Fucking legend. Hats off to him and the UAW

[–] Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz 47 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

That is something I wonder about. Inflation makes the poor poorer but when asked, economists are like "trust us, inflation is good".

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 23 points 1 year ago (30 children)

A small amount is good. Deflation makes it so not spending money is more beneficial. The longer you wait to spend the more the money is worth. This causes fewer products and services to be purchased, which pays for wages. Inflation makes the opposite true. The longer you wait to spend your money the less it's worth. It encourages spending, not saving. Inflation that outstrips increases to pay is obviously very bad though.

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[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 46 points 1 year ago
[–] LeatherRebel@leminal.space 46 points 1 year ago

hell yeah fuck the oligarchy

[–] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 45 points 1 year ago (3 children)

At this point I am all for a plan that will fuck me over but takes them down with me. Let's do this shit.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago

When you have no roof over your head and it rains, just make a tarp from the skin of a landlord.

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[–] pizzahoe@lemm.ee 44 points 1 year ago

Let's goooooo 🔨

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 40 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Only problem with this is that this doesn’t even hurt the ultra rich - every catastrophe is just a new investment opportunity for them. E.g. after Brexit they just moved their money and businesses out of the UK, leaving the poor schlebs who live there to deal with it.

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[–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 40 points 1 year ago (29 children)

What are the odds this fella doesn't get CIA'd soon?

[–] GreenMario@lemm.ee 44 points 1 year ago

Burn everything down if that happens.

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[–] BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 32 points 1 year ago

If conditions are unlivable for too many people, that's bad and it calls for a re-negotiation of everything. It also bears reminding today's leisure class/ultra-wealthy that part of the basis for their existence as such was always a trade-off between them paying their workers enough to live with dignity and the metaphorical torches and pitchforks and guillotines staying in mothballs

[–] DeathWearsANecktie@lemm.ee 30 points 1 year ago

"For the fired auto workers Who were twisted, tricked and robbed To the peasant in Guatemala In a sweatshop got your job And she can't feed her family On the pennies that she makes Meanwhile the crime rate's rising Up and down the Great Lake states

Like vegetables left in the field The signatures smell rotten On the contracts and the deeds That push the race down to the bottom As they load the rubber bullets As they fire another round I'm heading into the tear gas Dig in man, hold your ground

For Joe Hill and Cesar Chavez Who fought in their own time For our brothers and our sisters Up and down that picket line For the unnamed and unnumbered Who struggle brave and long For the union men and women Standing up and standing strong"

Tom Morello/The Nightwatchman - Union Song

[–] DarthBueller@lemmy.world 29 points 1 year ago (3 children)

On my commute home yesterday I encountered a "wide load" convoy that was hauling a millionaire's yacht down the highway. Not a mega-yacht, just a yacht. I don't care that it was just a millionaire's yacht, I felt compelled to roll down the window and give it the bird.

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[–] assassinatedbyCIA@lemmy.world 28 points 1 year ago
[–] rynzcycle@kbin.social 27 points 1 year ago

Hell yeah brother

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