←back to thread

Dear Jeff Bezos, instead of firing me, protect your workers from coronavirus

(www.theguardian.com)
174 points jbegley | 2 comments | 03 Apr 20 15:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.009s | source
Show context
zamalek ◴[03 Apr 20 16:58 UTC] No.22771415[source]▶
I strongly sympathize with the Amazon workers. The real problem is that this isn't the first time Amazon has been in the spotlight for worker conditions (there's even a pretty shocking documentary on the subject) and nothing sensible has ever come from it. Amazon continues to exploit humans who have few other choices, and will continue to get away with it.

This whole situation is a really good example of why worker's unions must exist.

replies(4): >>22772907 #>>22773035 #>>22773435 #>>22773767 #
1. malandrew ◴[03 Apr 20 20:04 UTC] No.22773435[source]▶
And here is one reason why they should not exist:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/oregons-coronavirus-education-l...

The Oregon teachers union is blocking student transfers to online charter schools for fear that the students will remain in the charter schools and won't return to public school next year.

It would be much better if we instead broke down the barriers to moving between jobs like portable healthcare benefits so companies have no leverage to keep employees around and employees can easily change employers if the employer doesn't treat employees fairly.

replies(1): >>22774308 #
2. cowpig ◴[03 Apr 20 21:54 UTC] No.22774308[source]▶
I don't understand this reasoning.

I could point to all kinds of wrongdoing by corporations. Does that means corporations shouldn't exist?