Robert ReichNov 16, 2022

As Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Stripe, Shopify, Lyft, Netflix, and Microsoft lay off workers, let it serve as a reminder that free snacks, beer kegs, and ping pong tables are not real perks.

Do you know what is? Being part of a union that will defend you.

Show threadJoseph IshieNov 16, 2022
@rbreich how does the union help during economic crisis??? It doesn’t help businesses if you ask me…
Show threadAss dragon
@jt_ishie @rbreich they can delay the layoff process and with collective bargaining force the company to layoff non union workers first. Granted if they don’t have enough clout it may not work
Nov 16, 2022 at 9:50pmWeb
Show threadJoseph IshieNov 16, 2022

@assdragon @rbreich hmmm. How does this benefit the company esp its resources? If some of their best are not within the union…

Just playing devils advocate here.

Show threadAss dragonNov 16, 2022
@rbreich @jt_ishie it doesn’t help the company it’s about helping the worker and in that situation the union may not be able to help if they can’t back in either quality or numbers. But unions usually bolster their numbers be paying for everyones education in it. But without some kind of edge like quality or numbers a union is meaningless.
Show threadI Linux I Lose 😫Nov 17, 2022

@jt_ishie @assdragon @rbreich There is a fundamental conflict many times between what's best for the company and what's best for the people who work there.

But suppose I decide that the company's immediate interests are more important than the workers' and I use that as a justification for NOT unionizing. Later, when I'm laid off, how do I explain to my family, my kids, that the company is more important than even THEM?

It's not just about the company. Society matters too.

Show threadMorganNov 17, 2022
@jt_ishie @assdragon @rbreich why should something have to benefit a corporation as much as it benefits the actual human beings who work there?
if you want a reason it's good for the company, people work better when they're not constantly stressed out about losing their job or not making enough money etc
but it shouldn't have to be good for the company if it helps the workers, lives are more important than numbers
Show threadAss dragonNov 17, 2022
@jt_ishie @rbreich @raphaelmorgan well it had to benefit the company as far as not damaging profits or efficiency too badly leading to layoffs of union workers. It’s a give and take game with the unions and companies. If you take too much the company will find a way around dealing with them.
Show threadLiberalRocksNov 17, 2022

@jt_ishie @assdragon @rbreich

I'm kind of not worried about corporate interests anymore. They've been protected for decades. A little worker protection to balance things out isn't going to destroy the world.

Show threadcaitNov 21, 2022

@jt_ishie when society only thought about company benefits, we had the #TriangleShirtwaistFactoryFire with workers locked inside the building.

Not everything is about profit.