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Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

theguardian.com

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Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#21

Post by bongobongo »

StevePerkins wrote: post #8
heer4it wrote: post #3

These companies are so huge and such an integral part of society that they need to be made more accountable to the public, and forcing them to be more accountable to their workers is part of that. I think the recent proposal to require employee representation on the board of directors of $1B+ companies is a good start.

On Day One, the entire workforce of every company becomes "contractors". Labor does not have the leverage in most industries as it does in large tech. Even in tech it is cyclical. Younger readers here, who missed out on the 2001 and 2008 crashes, are going to have an eye-opening experience when the next recession gets here.

Labor always has leverage. The question is whether or not it is organized enough to use it.

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#22

Post by MiroF »

signal11 wrote: post #12
StevePerkins wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On Day One, the entire workforce of every company becomes "contractors". Labor does not have the leverage in most industries as it does in large tech. Even in tech it is cyclical. Younger readers here, who missed out on the 2001 and 2008 crashes, are going to have an eye-opening experience when the next recession gets here.

> On Day One, the entire workforce of every company becomes "contractors". This is going to be increasingly difficult in Europe as they focus on “disguised employees” or “perm-tractors”. The UK has already implemented this rule (IR35) for the public sector, with the private sector set to follow suit in 2020. And the EU are beginning to consider how to clamp down on the practice.

if employee representatives are on the board, these sort of unilateral decisions by management become a lot harder

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#23

Post by rahimnathwani »

signal11 wrote: post #12
StevePerkins wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On Day One, the entire workforce of every company becomes "contractors". Labor does not have the leverage in most industries as it does in large tech. Even in tech it is cyclical. Younger readers here, who missed out on the 2001 and 2008 crashes, are going to have an eye-opening experience when the next recession gets here.

> On Day One, the entire workforce of every company becomes "contractors". This is going to be increasingly difficult in Europe as they focus on “disguised employees” or “perm-tractors”. The UK has already implemented this rule (IR35) for the public sector, with the private sector set to follow suit in 2020. And the EU are beginning to consider how to clamp down on the practice.

Nitpick: IR35 was announced in 1999, and came into force in 2000.

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#24

Post by 5440 »

heer4it wrote: post #3

These companies are so huge and such an integral part of society that they need to be made more accountable to the public, and forcing them to be more accountable to their workers is part of that. I think the recent proposal to require employee representation on the board of directors of $1B+ companies is a good start.

Who would would you suggest represent the employees exactly. The majority? That doesn't always work out the way you would like.

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#25

Post by tathougies »

heer4it wrote: post #3

These companies are so huge and such an integral part of society that they need to be made more accountable to the public, and forcing them to be more accountable to their workers is part of that. I think the recent proposal to require employee representation on the board of directors of $1B+ companies is a good start.

I'm not familiar with Google's employee stock plan, but since -- I presume -- most employees are shareholders, don't they already have a say at the board level?

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#26

Post by dang »

LordHumungous wrote: post #6

Far left activists will lose because they are fragile. You just have to deal them a setback and they give up.

Would you please not post unsubstantive comments here? You've done that repeatedly, and we ban accounts that do that repeatedly.

Also, please don't use HN for ideological battle.

Also, please eschew flamebait.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#27

Post by goobynight »

StevePerkins wrote: post #8
heer4it wrote: post #3

These companies are so huge and such an integral part of society that they need to be made more accountable to the public, and forcing them to be more accountable to their workers is part of that. I think the recent proposal to require employee representation on the board of directors of $1B+ companies is a good start.

On Day One, the entire workforce of every company becomes "contractors". Labor does not have the leverage in most industries as it does in large tech. Even in tech it is cyclical. Younger readers here, who missed out on the 2001 and 2008 crashes, are going to have an eye-opening experience when the next recession gets here.

Not sure it will be the same. 2008 was not just a regular business cycle recession. That was a huge event that I agree would be devastating.

Tech work is much more diversified now, right? Did capital one, starbucks, nordstrom, Walmart, Target, car makers and just about everyone have a sizable SWE team in 2001? They do now and a lot of those are probably in profit center roles.

That sets aside that big tech really got even more cemented into daily lives after both of those crashes. 2013 onward IMO. Just looks at how Tinder has changed relationships.

That said, I'm still proceeding with caution and don't have a self-assurance that I'm correct. I've set myself up to be able to peace out for a year in Vietnam or another cheap place if, somehow, the floor falls out.

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#28

Post by ocdtrekkie »

tathougies wrote: post #25
heer4it wrote: post #3

These companies are so huge and such an integral part of society that they need to be made more accountable to the public, and forcing them to be more accountable to their workers is part of that. I think the recent proposal to require employee representation on the board of directors of $1B+ companies is a good start.

I'm not familiar with Google's employee stock plan, but since -- I presume -- most employees are shareholders, don't they already have a say at the board level?

An important distinction is that companies like Google and Facebook have dual class structures for shares: The founders still hold all the power in any shareholder vote.

Case in point, 68% of Facebook shareholders voted to remove Mark Zuckerberg, but since Zuckerberg's shares are a lot more powerful, it's completely irrelevant: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-68-percent-of-facebook-in...

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#29

Post by billy_beef »

tathougies wrote: post #25
heer4it wrote: post #3

These companies are so huge and such an integral part of society that they need to be made more accountable to the public, and forcing them to be more accountable to their workers is part of that. I think the recent proposal to require employee representation on the board of directors of $1B+ companies is a good start.

I'm not familiar with Google's employee stock plan, but since -- I presume -- most employees are shareholders, don't they already have a say at the board level?

This is hardly a legitimate measure of power compared to actually having a worker with a seat at the table.

Re: Google Walkout Organizer Claire Stapleton Resigns

#30

Post by billy_beef »

dudus wrote: post #20
roybahat wrote: post #15

Any predictions about whether the Google Walkout ends up feeling, five years from now, as the beginning of a movement or a flash in the pan?

5 years? I think it already has mostly been forgotten

What are you talking about? It comes out like often in my world?
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