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1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

businessinsider.com

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Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#541

Post by pwillia7 »

marcusverus wrote: post #352
pwillia7 wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's 152 other families to work as scabs for each striking worker. I worry all of this won't be resolved until the next State level paradigm shift, like when the world mostly did away with kings and queens for liberalism.

> …the next State level paradigm shift…. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this point.

Take a listen to James Burke chatting with Dan Carlin. A better job than I could do -- https://www.dancarlin.com/product/common-sense-312-re-connec...

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#542

Post by kortilla »

shawnz wrote: post #444
kortilla wrote: post #412

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because unions offer literally no upside for companies. They are meant precisely to organize the collective power of the employees to pressure the company into deals with its employees it wouldn’t have otherwise.

One upside for companies is that the unions are better able to represent the interests of the employees than, for example, the HR department would be able to, simply because of the incentives at play. This could attract more talent to the company, improve retention, and give the company more insight into the employees' needs.

> unions are better able to represent the interests of the employees than, for example, the HR department would be able to

Employees are really good at complaining (at least in the US). Management that is interested in knowing what bothers employees definitely knows without a union.

> This could attract more talent to the company, improve retention

Paying more money works even better. People choose better paying jobs pretty consistently even if it means dropping the union.

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#543

Post by dragonwriter »

kortilla wrote: post #542
shawnz wrote: post #444

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One upside for companies is that the unions are better able to represent the interests of the employees than, for example, the HR department would be able to, simply because of the incentives at play. This could attract more talent to the company, improve retention, and give the company more insight into the employees' needs.

> unions are better able to represent the interests of the employees than, for example, the HR department would be able to Employees are really good at complaining (at least in the US). Management that is interested in knowing what bothers employees definitely knows without a union. > This could attract more talent to the company, improve retention Paying more money works even better. People choose better paying jobs…

> Management that is interested in knowing what bothers employees definitely knows without a union.

Sure, but unions are good at motivating management to care.

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#544

Post by kortilla »

rejectedandsad wrote: post #414
kortilla wrote: post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But who are those books for? I don’t buy books about politicians I don’t like.

A non-trivial number of people do across the political spectrum. Political memoirs for instance are usually ghostwritten (outside of the first Obama book and maybe the Pete book given he was a nobody) and are only purchased in order to show support for the candidate. It's a team spirit thing. Plus, I'm sure some have their own niches (satire, exposés like "Frankly we won this election" that have new reporting, etc) a…

No, not books meant to paint politicians in a good light. I’m talking about these “orange man bad” books. Why would I want to spend hours of my life reading more details about a man I don’t want occupying my mind?

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#545

Post by [deleted] »

shawnz wrote: post #444
kortilla wrote: post #412

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because unions offer literally no upside for companies. They are meant precisely to organize the collective power of the employees to pressure the company into deals with its employees it wouldn’t have otherwise.

One upside for companies is that the unions are better able to represent the interests of the employees than, for example, the HR department would be able to, simply because of the incentives at play. This could attract more talent to the company, improve retention, and give the company more insight into the employees' needs.

[deleted]

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#546

Post by kortilla »

AngryData wrote: post #445
kortilla wrote: post #407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> would otherwise have become “profit” and spend it in a way that counts as “re-investing”. Yes, so that’s not profit anymore. What’s the problem? Would you prefer that businesses be taxed on revenue and not profit?

It is a problem in where that money is going and being spent on. If they are truly investing, no problem, but if they are "investing" into, for example, buying there own private islands to vacation on under the guise of business, lambos for company cars, or boosting stock prices they already own, they aren't helping or supporting the economy they are extracting wealth from. And it should be taxed just like if I perso…

> there own private islands to vacation on under the guise of business, lambos for company cars

That’s not even a thing. We’re not living in an Austin Powers movie.

> or boosting stock prices they already own

Who is “they” in that sentence? Do you know how public traded companies work?

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#547

Post by kortilla »

dstick wrote: post #511
kortilla wrote: post #403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not reminiscent of it at all. The factory stores had shitty prices and were the only option. Amazon employees can choose to spend their money anywhere. The company towns are gone.

Which is precisely my point. Amazon is forcing competitors out of business. And once they have a monopoly, history teaches us they will have no incentives left to keep their prices down, and introduce the very shitty prices you speak off. Hence: we’re not there _yet_

> Which is precisely my point.

No it’s not. Your point was completely the opposite (factory towns had shitty prices due to exclusivity).

> Amazon is forcing competitors out of business. And once they have a monopoly

They are forcing little shitty stores that have nothing to add over ordering online out of business.

They aren’t anywhere near a monopoly in any segment of the world. They aren’t even on a path to it. It’s so trivial for people to sell things online that they will never be anything close to one unless they get online sales banned for the rest of the Internet.

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#548

Post by kortilla »

heavyset_go wrote: post #443
kortilla wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We're heading towards a world where most work is done by machines, and only a handful of people will own, control and profit from them People keep saying that but we are no closer than we were 50 years ago. A lot of jobs have been replaced but new jobs have been created and society has absorbed the increased productivity (cheaper goods, foods, and much more complex high end goods (iPhone, airplanes, etc).

> A lot of jobs have been replaced but new jobs have been created and society has absorbed the increased productivity. Not in every case. You can look at workers in the Rust Belt. Their well paying jobs with benefits were "replaced" and new jobs never came, unless you think working at Walmart for close to minimum wage is one of those new jobs. Even when, say, manufacturers come back and produce domestically, they've…

> It isn't "society" that's absorbed absorbed increased worker productivity,

Yes it has. Food is way cheaper now. Clothes are way cheaper. Transportation is way cheaper. Housing is way better (and cheaper if you want what passed for housing in the 40s).

Re: 1 out of every 153 American workers is an Amazon employee

#549

Post by hasmanean »

gruez wrote: post #390
hasmanean wrote: post #380

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both of them pay low wages but retail stores have to pay rent for their facilities. Amazon doesn’t.

>Amazon doesn’t. They need warehouse space though.

I doubt they rent their warehouses.

And they build them out in the middle of nowhere where land is cheap to buy.

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