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I spent two weeks delivering for Uber Eats and made $4.40 per hour

(www.breakit.se)
383 points imartin2k | 2 comments | 13 May 17 10:08 UTC | HN request time: 0.421s | source
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fiatjaf ◴[13 May 17 11:42 UTC] No.14330452[source]▶
I don't understand what is wrong with Uber Eats charging whatever price they want to charge. If $4.4 is too low just don't work for them. There are probably people for which this is a good price. If not, it's Uber Eats problem, not yours.
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moxious ◴[13 May 17 11:51 UTC] No.14330479[source]▶
It's not black and white. What looks to you like the free choice of people choosing to work for $4.4 may look to others like a forced situation. What I think you're missing is that your assumption that everyone can freely choose and has alternatives is clearly mistaken.
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reustle ◴[13 May 17 11:58 UTC] No.14330502[source]▶
> may look to others like a forced situation. What I think you're missing is that your assumption that everyone can freely choose and has alternatives is clearly mistaken.

Could you please elaborate? I don't exactly follow. Nobody is forcing them to work for Uber. If what you mean is they have bills to pay, etc, it's not like Uber can just magically decide to pay $9/hr, they will likely need to cut most of the jobs at that point anyway.

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toomuchtodo ◴[13 May 17 12:14 UTC] No.14330553[source]▶
Uber takes advantage of a lack of (or poor quality) social safety nets. Like Walmart. Its exploitative.
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1. reustle ◴[13 May 17 12:21 UTC] No.14330591[source]▶
But is that the fault of Uber (or Walmart)? Isn't them having a crap job better than no job? Yea it's not awesome that the pay is low, but at least they are employing some people. If the pay was higher they probably couldn't​ create the same service at a sustainable price point?
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2. Fnoord ◴[13 May 17 19:24 UTC] No.14332541[source]▶
The 'at least they get paid' argument is the one also being used by those who order takeaway food, and those who buy blood diamonds, blood gold, and entire clothes industry alike.

Nevermind the fact these people work in terrible conditions. Nevermind the fact these people work with chemicals which are unhealthy. Nevermind the fact these people ignore traffic regulations because they need to arrive on time. Nevermind the fact these people are children who go down in dangerous mines with gas which can also implode at any time.

It is a fallacy. The real solution to the issue is far more simple: let those who desire takeaway food (or who desire diamonds, gold, or clothes) pay a fair price, so that the workers get paid a fair price.