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Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

latimes.com

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Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

doesn't imply that to me. this is not the first market down turn. this is not the first time companies have shed employees in anticipation of a market down turn. this is also not the first time to use this type of situation to unload less desirable employees. it also provides for companies with cover with the unions (especially those just formed). no collusion necessary to be familiar with history

> to unload less desirable employees I don't think that has necessarily happened. I've seen people write that Google's firings at least feel somewhat arbitrary.

The metric they're less desirable against might not be an obvious one?

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I had a manager namecheck the layoffs as a reason they don't need to move on addressing any of our team's concerns about working conditions. What does "namecheck" mean in this context?

Guessing it means they named the companies out loud, presumably to scare employees

Thanks, the original comment makes sense when I use that definition.

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#84
post #20

Guess tech workers should have unionized when they had the chance. As if capital was going to let the most powerful group of workers that's ever existed continue to slip their noose

On a side note I feel we can take Unionization into the tech world as a start up or an App.

Imagine a blind-esque App that just allows everyone participating to vote anonymously for a union. Then AFTER a union is official then leaders and instigators could reveal themselves or maybe there were no leaders or instigators the whole thing was p2p.

I feel something as easy and convenient as blind can allow "unions in limbo" to form at basically every company. Basically the votes for a union are in, the requirements are met but nobody is really running the show. When times change and companies pull this mass layoff BS... then people can immediately elect a rep to take the reigns as a point of negotiation...?

Is an organization that constantly takes something similar to an HOA fee really required all the time? We just really need to have organized negotiations and communications with management WHEN needed. Like the immune system.. activation only during emergencies.

For example Amazon is conducting multiple rounds of layoffs. If this app existed... No process is needed for workers to form a central point of negotiation as the union is already there in limbo. Software engineers seeing the mass layoffs in the industry All immediately nominate and vote for union reps in the app. The rep has the position for 1 year (as dictated by the app), and will be paid his current salary to do union stuff. He becomes the admin for the blind-esque forum for the company and runs polls and things like that to help the software engineers do coordinated negotiation with management.

Here's the other part of it. If this app existed. Amazon would be aware. They wouldn't perform a random lay off UNLESS it was absolutely required because it would reactivate the union in limbo. So this would prevent even the first round of lay offs presuming that the layoffs have to do with what the article is implying here.

After a year there will be another election for another rep. If things have calmed and nobody really cares any more the rep will be unelected by vote or lack of participation and the union will go back into limbo. If things are still bad everyone will vote for the rep (or a new rep) to stay in place for one more year...

Every company will have the same basic templated bylaws made by the app with additional stuff amended by the union rep. The idea is only emergency activation when needed only.

Good idea? Yay or nay.

Not saying I'm going to do this, but contact me at the email in my profile if you'd be potentially interested working on something like this.

(just fyi the email in my account is not my main email and the name is not my real name and the phone number used to register it is a burner, you should do the same if contacting me, this IS a touchy subject)

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#85

follow up question, why hasn't apple needed to do this? how are they keeping 'tabs' on 'worker power'?

Second hand information: Apple on average takes 2 years to fill an empty position. They almost never lay anyone off, just find another role for someone. It's where the evil corporation narrative falls down, apple makes sure they hire the right people and then keep them. It's the way it should be. But even for other tech companies, people on HN need to look outside of tech and see what life is like, there are people o…

The fact that they coddle some of their workers (typically a very small minority), doesn't mean they are not exploitative capitalist enterprises. The two are different concepts.

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#86
So big tech has 220,000 layoffs and there is not the merest hint of a blip in the unemployment rate.

This is not a tragedy - these people are going to find jobs, good jobs. In fact it's quite likely that they will go into roles which might do something other than online advertising. You know, something useful.

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#87
post #35

does this imply the lay-offs were a product of collusion at the executive level across the entire sector? If anyone could find evidence of that it would be extremely news-worthy. If I might adorn my hat of tin-foil for a second; at a big corp I used to work at, I heard execs predicting this outcome back in early 2022 in combination with being incredibly relaxed about the employment market being extremely hot at the t…

It would be difficult to prove active collusion, its more like institutionalized collusion, and I doubt that's a crime. e.g. the same consulting firms are hired by all companies, and they will give the same advice when dealing with falling revenues, plunging stock prices etc.

Also, it doesn't make a lick of sense. Growing head count 50% over 2 years and then pulling back 5-10% isn't breaking the back of workers. It sucks for the 5-10% but big tech still has much more demand for workers than they have except for like 6 months of their existence.

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#88

follow up question, why hasn't apple needed to do this? how are they keeping 'tabs' on 'worker power'?

Maybe the answer is that no one is trying to "keep tabs on worker power" and the decision is primarily driven by financial reasons?

Cheap money had to be spent in an inflationary economy, money is more expensive now with higher rates and thus companies that ramped up spending too fast need to cut costs.

Apple did not hire as many people during the pandemic so they don't have as much pressure.

Re: Big Tech is using layoffs to crush worker power

#89

does this imply the lay-offs were a product of collusion at the executive level across the entire sector? If anyone could find evidence of that it would be extremely news-worthy. If I might adorn my hat of tin-foil for a second; at a big corp I used to work at, I heard execs predicting this outcome back in early 2022 in combination with being incredibly relaxed about the employment market being extremely hot at the t…

Why collude in private when you can copy in public? It's not as if all the layoffs happened on exactly the same day.
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