Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers • Hacker News Board

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#51

Post by simias » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:00 PM UTC

marcrosoft wrote: post #24

mulm wrote: post #16

One of the Danish consumer NGOs called tænk recently tested the security of things bought off amazon, wish and other online retailers. More than half of the smoke alarms bought on amazon didn’t work. Around half of the baby toys didn’t meet choking hazard safety. Not sure why anyone still buys things from there. Or anywhere online really, all the other retailers failed as well.

> More than half of the smoke alarms bought on amazon didn’t work. Around half of the baby toys didn’t meet choking hazard safety. This is a manufacturer issue. This has nothing to do with Amazon. > Not sure why anyone still buys things from there. Or anywhere online really, all the other retailers failed as well. This is just a blanket statement that is completely wrong. Amazon sells all sorts of reputable supplies…

I agree with your general point but Amazon does have a pretty big problem with counterfeited products. If you buy some ultra-cheap no-name alarm and it doesn't end up working very well, you got what you paid for. If you bought a reputable brand but ended up with a non-functional knockoff I do think that it's fair to give a share of the blame to Amazon.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#52

Post by simias » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:03 PM UTC

pdelgallego wrote: post #41

rorykoehler wrote: post #2

Amazon workers should unionize immediately now that the virus has given them leverage.

If workers unionize right now, then it will probably put the general public opinion against the workers. Specially as the pandemic get its way into the US, and more and more people self quarantine, and start relying in delivery services for all their shopping

They could unionize without disrupting the service, just to increase their bargaining power and unify their representation.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#53

Post by bdefore » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:06 PM UTC

seneca wrote: post #47

bdefore wrote: post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

Striking in order to exploit a global disaster for personal gain would be a great way for organized labor to turn many people against them for a life time. It may work in the short term, but even that is debatable. Many people would gladly see the national guard break a strike if it's between them and basic essentials. Long term, the optics of that kind of move are so damning that it would likely be a net-loss.

Depends on the spin. Couldn't you argue this is exploitation of the health of desperate low-paid workers, their family and their communities?

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#54

Post by simias » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:07 PM UTC

jacobwilliamroy wrote: post #42

bdefore wrote: post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

>War rhetoric Wait, like a real war? Who's talking about a war? Between what parties? I have heard nothing about a war, please explain.

I don't know what the parent had in mind but in Europe at least the word "war" has been thrown around a lot lately. The French president said that France was in a "state of war" during his last discourse for instance.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#55

Post by dehrmann » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:08 PM UTC

bredren wrote: post #36

bdefore wrote: post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

Yes. When the bailouts for so many others are happening, people in meat-packing plants, checking out groceries and delivering mail etc need major wage increases. I think around 3X current levels. USPS mail carriers and handlers are being given no guidance or support right now either.

> When the bailouts for so many others are happening

I don't disagree that the support for, say, airlines, are bailouts, but the connotation that word has from 2008-2009 mischaracterizes what's going on right now. When this all blows over, you absolutely want airlines ready for business. Letting heavily impacted businesses fail is a recipe for a depression.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#56

Post by bdefore » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:09 PM UTC

jacobwilliamroy wrote: post #42

bdefore wrote: post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

>War rhetoric Wait, like a real war? Who's talking about a war? Between what parties? I have heard nothing about a war, please explain.

Consider it 'military rhetoric' if you prefer. It's politically very effective in galvanizing support among Americans for things that are not really targetable (i.e. war on drugs, terrorism). Outside the US, French leader Macron has declared 'We are at war'.

Some further contemplation on it: https://newrepublic.com/article/156949/casualties-war-corona...

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#57

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:10 PM UTC

bdefore wrote: post #21

Glad to see this from Amazon, although I see it heading off the inevitable. Wouldn't this be the most powerful moment for employees in 'essential' services to engage in worker strikes? Is there any legal precedent for what governments would do? With all this war rhetoric thrown around, it seems a reasonable jump to declare essential workers troops on the frontline deserving of what we give other troops (free health c…

[deleted]

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#58

Post by werber » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:11 PM UTC

I run in mostly “Fuck the man” circles, so i feel weird saying this, but amazon has consistently been a good leader for other businesses in terms of compensation. I wish they’d go to 25 an hour, as that’s the minimum I could live on

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#59

Post by seneca » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:11 PM UTC

bdefore wrote: post #53

seneca wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Striking in order to exploit a global disaster for personal gain would be a great way for organized labor to turn many people against them for a life time. It may work in the short term, but even that is debatable. Many people would gladly see the national guard break a strike if it's between them and basic essentials. Long term, the optics of that kind of move are so damning that it would likely be a net-loss.

Depends on the spin. Couldn't you argue this is exploitation of the health of desperate low-paid workers, their family and their communities?

> Couldn't you argue this is exploitation of the health of desperate low-paid workers, their family and their communities?

Giving people a raise to incentivize them to voluntarily work to supply resources people desperately need is pretty difficult to spin into exploitation. Many people are out there volunteering to do such things for free because they understand how badly it's needed. I suspect those likely to be sympathetic to that line made up their minds about such things long before this event. I do agree with you that some folks will definitely try that angle though.

Re: Amazon raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

#60

Post by dehrmann » Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 6:12 PM UTC

tcbawo wrote: post #22

eloff wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure cotton masks offer little to no protection. What you need is a n95 respirator.

What hospitals need are N95 respirators and surgical masks. A family member of mine is a doctor at a large hospital system. They have a mask shortage and have been encouraged to use scarves and t-shirts if necessary. Plain cotton masks would offer considerable benefits if everybody began wearing them in public. Countries in Asia, where it is common for everyone to wear masks have a lower R0 value.

> Plain cotton masks would offer considerable benefits if everybody began wearing them in public

This goes against the current WHO recommendation

> If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.