Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The Brief Origins of May Day

archive.iww.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 260 posts

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#151

Post by 0xbadcafebee »

parpfish wrote: post #16

Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers? I know that we’re not a monolith and are actually a heterogeneous mix of opinions, but there frequently talk about job dissatisfaction (career burnout, comically stingy equity grants, etc). But when organizing comes up, it’s usually treated with disdain because so many have bought into highly individualistic hustle-culture and the narrative that unions only exis…

We make a lot of money. Money pays for healthcare, childcare, paternity/maternity leave, retirement, food, housing, transportation, in addition to recreation. Our "struggle" is invented. Oh, career burnout huh? So you're working yourself harder than you have to in order to make more money? Sounds tough. And small equity grants? Oh gosh, how dare they not give us even more money.

People who don't make a lot of money struggle to afford all those things, and are worked to death despite it. They don't just have enough and want more. They literally don't have enough to live a life free of struggle.

Unions exist because workers were literally being killed by their employers. What's a tech worker's biggest gripe? Being on-call? Not getting a bonus on top of their fat salary? The only time I've ever done a hard day's work as a tech worker was when I joined a shitty startup that was abusive with long hours. I left and joined a normal company and it was smooth sailing. The most painful part of the job is my tennis elbow, but hey, I have a corporate healthcare plan and a $1000 swivel chair. I don't see the point of a union in this environment.

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#152

Post by 9rx »

parpfish wrote: post #16

Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers? I know that we’re not a monolith and are actually a heterogeneous mix of opinions, but there frequently talk about job dissatisfaction (career burnout, comically stingy equity grants, etc). But when organizing comes up, it’s usually treated with disdain because so many have bought into highly individualistic hustle-culture and the narrative that unions only exis…

> Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers?

They do! What doesn't resonate with many tech workers is working together with other people. Tech workers are largely used to working alone, and many even struggle in social situations more-so than in other industries, so when a labor issue arises they believe it is a problem they must solve on their own.

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#153

Post by psadauskas »

parpfish wrote: post #16

Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers? I know that we’re not a monolith and are actually a heterogeneous mix of opinions, but there frequently talk about job dissatisfaction (career burnout, comically stingy equity grants, etc). But when organizing comes up, it’s usually treated with disdain because so many have bought into highly individualistic hustle-culture and the narrative that unions only exis…

Cory Doctorow wrote about this recently: The enshittification of tech jobs (27 Apr 2025) https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/27/some-animals/

Particularly this part:

> nestling comfortably alongside of the idea that "I don't need a union, I'm a temporarily embarrassed founder."

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#155

Post by matkoniecz »

cruzcampo wrote: post #149
matkoniecz wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's no enemy but the class enemy. this is a bizarre simplification, sounding like some kind of silly propaganda I am well aware of enemies not fitting into such labeling at all (and probably there are more less obvious ones)

Could you name a few?

Government of Russian federation and significant part of Russian society that supports reconquering territories Russia used to control.

Soccer hooligan vandals.

Corrupt local politicians.

Some vandals obsessed with damaging community-run geodata collection project.

People who thing that overregulating everything in Europe is an exciting adventure and we should have more of it.

Climate change deniers, people misunderstanding vaccines and in effect trying to resurrect diseases that were extinct locally.

People with Saruman-like approach to trees.

Coal miners parasiting on billions from public funds to fund coal mining (as selling coal does not allow to pay for it, at least with how much they are paid for it).

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#157

Post by brookst »

constantcrying wrote: post #68
parpfish wrote: post #16

Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers? I know that we’re not a monolith and are actually a heterogeneous mix of opinions, but there frequently talk about job dissatisfaction (career burnout, comically stingy equity grants, etc). But when organizing comes up, it’s usually treated with disdain because so many have bought into highly individualistic hustle-culture and the narrative that unions only exis…

[flagged]

Do you also think the working class have no business complaining about the struggles of the truly poor? And the poor can’t complain about people literally starving?

You seem to be claiming that empathy is always “hollow” but I think this is at most a statement about you. Many people can be both well off and want to make things better for others. Not everyone, for sure, not enough maybe. But attacking people for showing empathy seems weird.

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#158

Post by AndrewKemendo »

aaronbaugher wrote: post #120
seneca wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

If you were writing a book about the typical history and personality of tech workers, "deeply aggrieved at the world" would have to be in there somewhere.

There’s infinite reason to be deeply aggrieved at the world

If you find that you are not aggrieved at the world then most likely you are in a privileged bubble

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#159

Post by johngossman »

9rx wrote: post #152
parpfish wrote: post #16

Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers? I know that we’re not a monolith and are actually a heterogeneous mix of opinions, but there frequently talk about job dissatisfaction (career burnout, comically stingy equity grants, etc). But when organizing comes up, it’s usually treated with disdain because so many have bought into highly individualistic hustle-culture and the narrative that unions only exis…

> Why don’t labor issues resonate more with tech workers? They do! What doesn't resonate with many tech workers is working together with other people. Tech workers are largely used to working alone, and many even struggle in social situations more-so than in other industries, so when a labor issue arises they believe it is a problem they must solve on their own.

The many people working in big tech are certainly used to working together and solving problems together. I think others on this thread are closer: generally high economic status and greater perceived career autonomy than in other industries

Re: The Brief Origins of May Day

#160

Post by constantcrying »

cruzcampo wrote: post #145
constantcrying wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My class is the middle class and for generations we have profited from the extremely productive corporations here in Germany. Never in my life have I felt being "exploited" if anything these corporations have been excessively kind. I don't know or care which class I am betraying.

[flagged]

Factory workers clearly do not see themselves as the same class as me.

I do not see them as the same class as me.

I have never felt exploited, but I HAVE enormously benefited from German corporations.

Post reply on HN