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Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

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Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#151

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Goodonya. Here's what I did. It's not for everyone. It was painful, awkward and led to a lot of bother... but ultimately I feel proud of myself and how the other responded. I rejected a gift that came in an Amazon box. Very politely, and apologetically., I said, "I'm really sorry, but I can't accept this." And why, (working conditions, monopoly etc). It had an effect not only on myself - to make an ideological whimsy…

> It led to a memorable and positive conversation. Was the conversation really positive? My first instinct was to think that this is incredibly awkward and harsh for the person that made the effort to buy you a gift; or to speak for myself: I would be pretty pissed if a good friend has a birthday, and I buy them an iPhone from AT&T and they refuse my gift because... .

Yeah. I also make it a personal rule to never buy things on Amazon, but I can't imagine turning down a gift like this from someone.

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#152

Transcript: Welcome! We're excited to have you at this training, specifically designed to give you the tools you need for success when it comes to labor organizing. During this course, we will cover important topics such as our position on unions, associate's rights, signs of employee disengagement, and how to identify, escalate, and address associate's concerns. We're not anti-union, but we're not neutral either. We…

Who makes up this stuff? > 'The most obvious signs would include use of words associative with unions or union-led movements such as 'living wage' or 'steward.' Talking about making a living wage is dangerous to shareholders now?

Talking about worker rights is dangerous to parasites yes

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#153
post #29
post #13

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For those that want to follow, what are good online shopping alternatives? I find that most people I talk to are drawn to Amazon simply because Amazon has managed to set an expectation of fast deliver, often as little as same-day delivery in areas that have a warehouse nearby (like the one I live in). I make every effort to shop local, or find alternative places to order online, but one cannot argue the convenience A…

Target, Costco, and Newegg (for certain items) come to mind has having good prices and return policies.

Target is also notorious for union-busting tactics.

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#154
post #25

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> Airbnb has been a negative influence on the housing market airbnb exposed the fact the societies are full of nimbys and politicians are useless. all while providing a good alternative to hotels. > Uber, well, do I even need to discuss that one? uber is amazing. it completely undercut the monopolies of the taxi companies. it provides an amazing service at a reasonable price. > our centuries old nemesis: Capitalism.…

You really should read the book I mentioned since you seem to have zero knowledge about the larger context.

i actually read the book. or tried to. it was very poor reading, wasted a few hours of my time. but to each his own.

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with your sentiment, but equally with the other reply that points out how this may backfire and embarrass the gift giver. I've previously turned down Amazon gift cards at things like social games nights, quizzes etc in the past and asked instead for the equivalent value to be donated to charity. In this case I think there's less risk of embarrassing the giver (there's no personal connection) but hopefully ach…

Gift cards in general are a scam, I never understood why giving money is a problem.

Because people tend to be encouraged not to handle cash anymore by much of payment infra being centered around cards/metadata resale.

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A far greater (and less needlessly entrapping) commitment to that would be to drop all traffic from AWS. Watch the Internet break, and never contribute to Amazon’s bottom line. This person had no idea about your beliefs and you pick the receipt of a gift as the moment to inform them through rejection? That seems rather mean for something where Bezos has already been paid.

Ever since AWS has become so ubiquitous it's hard. Bezos make more money from my OSS work from people using it on AWS than I'll ever make myself, that's the reality of OSS work these days

Thats how it is for every job though the seller make more money the close they are to the end user. The baker makes more for his bread than the millar makes for his flour but he makes more than the farmer does for his grain. Each step adds value and makes a larger share. Your software without the hardware and infrastructure isn't as valuable to the end user on its own.

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#158

This is beyond disgusting, and definitely not acceptable. So much for being "the world's best employer". I want to dig a hole and bury myself from the embarrassment of being associated with this company.

For who? Those at HQ in Seattle? Sure. Those on the ground/in the field? lol

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#159

Why do they call employees, "associates"?

The ostensible root of it is about maintaining the theoretical legal division between contractors and first-party employees while still addressing them as the same group. The cohort of 'Amazon associates' includes for example seasonal contract workers and contracted delivery agents, neither of whom are (generally speaking) directly employed by Amazon.

Re: Amazon training video on handling unionizing activity (2018) [video]

#160

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Paying you more than the absolute minimum is not in the interests of our Customers, Shareholders, Associates, Shareholders and our Shareholders.

Amazon actually pays significantly above the minimum wage, this frequently leads to complaints by businesses located near their plants that they have to hike their pay in response to still get workers. NYT did a nice article on this two years ago: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/05/business/economy/amazon-w...

No one said Amazon is paying the minimum wage though. They're working to pay the absolute minimum while still having adequate staffing.
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