Tech Workers' Values

Post by eli_gottlieb » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 12:57 PM UTC

chimeracoder wrote: post #146

cb21 wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Susan Fowler should've had a union to complain to, instead of Uber's hostile HR department.

> Susan Fowler should've had a union to complain to, instead of Uber's hostile HR department. As a minority, you can't assume that a union rep is on your side. Especially if the complaint is against someone else at your company who is represented by the same union, if that person is more politically important (within the union) than you are, you're risking a lot - up to and including retaliatory termination of union…

Post by eli_gottlieb » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 12:59 PM UTC

djsumdog wrote: post #25

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #10

We believe that employees should come together and clearly define the values and policies they'd like to see their companies uphold. A tech union isn't the perfect metaphor for this, but it's not far off. If it's going to do anything but be window dressing then it needs to have the teeth of union - so just call it what it is. I've argued for a while that tech workers need a union, but the chorus on HN and other place…

It's interesting because it would need to have the teeth of a union yes, but unlike unions of the past that lobbied for better wages and working conditions, what is being proposed is a union to ensure their company does what the workers feel is morally right for the world (not necessarily their customers, but the greater community of people affected by each companies goals and purposes).

Post by eli_gottlieb » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 1:05 PM UTC

ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #87

x0x0 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to wonder if this isn't an attempt to co-opt the movement started by @TechSolidarity / Maciej. I also think -- particularly if the HN audience is in any way representative -- that engineering in particular is far too deeply bought into the narrative of the rights of capital owners to unionize. Much like America, we think we're all temporarily embarrassed millionaires. I'm well aware unions aren't perfect. But…

> Much like America, we think we're all temporarily embarrassed millionaires. The reason that old canard doesn't carry a lot of weight around SV and the other tech hubs is that a lot of rank-and file, non-manager techies actually _are_ millionaires.

Post by eli_gottlieb » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 1:14 PM UTC

alphonsegaston wrote: post #46

throwaway29292 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the root cause of this problem is that -companies violate privacy rights to gather more big data -more data translates to more investment (I'm seeing this happen at my current company right now) -VCs, who are the top of the food chain, are the ones pushing for higher returns (like any rational actor would do) -then shouldn't the government step in and regulate this area? Define standards that would limit the amoun…

The root of the problem is the authoritarian structure of modern enterprise. I know many good people who work at bad companies, who, were they given the chance to have their say, would change things wildly for the better.

Post by eli_gottlieb » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 1:24 PM UTC

iamacynic wrote: post #19

leggomylibro wrote: post #3

Give us creative freedom and ownership of our IP. When you claim all of our thoughts on and off the clock, you encourage us to avoid creatively-fulfilling ventures, burn out, and leave for greener pastures.

> Give us creative freedom and ownership of our IP. you can't be serious. why would a company even exist if all the work it paid for would be owned by someone else? i mean sure, you can live in that world, it's just nobody would pay for anything to happen.