Joined Jun 2005
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Forum Thread
What are your thoughts on Amazon warehouses unionizing, and the current strike?
December 17, 2024 at
05:03 AM
I've heard that several Amazon warehouses have successfully formed a union. Although Amazon is forced to recognize them, the company has continually dragged its feet in meeting to negotiate with the unions.
I'll admit, I'm kind of surprised that Amazon didn't immediately close down any warehouse that voted to form a union, saying that they "no longer needed that location", or something along those lines.
I'll admit, I'm kind of surprised that Amazon didn't immediately close down any warehouse that voted to form a union, saying that they "no longer needed that location", or something along those lines.
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Just my 2 cents I have seen where workers tend to stay in their jobs too long when they are unionized and where the work rules just cause issues between employees.
I'll admit, I'm kind of surprised that Amazon didn't immediately close down any warehouse that voted to form a union, saying that they "no longer needed that location", or something along those lines.
I hope I am wrong but many of us will be out of jobs in the near future due to AI/robotics/greed and unless we figure out alternatives, the middle class will be joining the poor class. The top 5% will be richer than ever though.
I hope I am wrong but many of us will be out of jobs in the near future due to AI/robotics/greed and unless we figure out alternatives, the middle class will be joining the poor class. The top 5% will be richer than ever though.
AI has argued a court case. Robots that flip burgers have been around for awhile and they don't need time off or healthcare. They can survive any wage increase, and weren't too pricey last I checked. Robots have been used in pharmacies for decades. In another 20 years, especially with the decline of physical retail, people are going to be in trouble.
AI has argued a court case. Robots that flip burgers have been around for awhile and they don't need time off or healthcare. They can survive any wage increase, and weren't too pricey last I checked. Robots have been used in pharmacies for decades. In another 20 years, especially with the decline of physical retail, people are going to be in trouble.
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I work in IT and we use scripts and automation of some sort to avoid repetitive tasks like updating computers or building a server. So to me automation is good, yes there are fewer people working in IT due to automation but the repetitive tasks jobs never paid that much and caused carpal tunnel etc. I much prefer to troubleshoot the computers that are not working properly.
I work in IT and we use scripts and automation of some sort to avoid repetitive tasks like updating computers or building a server. So to me automation is good, yes there are fewer people working in IT due to automation but the repetitive tasks jobs never paid that much and caused carpal tunnel etc. I much prefer to troubleshoot the computers that are not working properly.
And this will not only affect low-skilled jobs. A lot of tech-bros have been laid off over the last couple of years. Google just announced they will lay off 10% of their managerial workforce. It's not just the "should have gotten an education workforce" that's being affected, management level jobs are and will be affected more and more too. AI/automation will get better, there may be a ceiling, but I think the celling is pretty high.
I think a lot of educated people and people in middle to upper management look down on HS graduates or vocational workers, but I think these people will be in the same boat soon enough. Your advanced degree won't help you when those advanced degree jobs no longer exist. Going to turn a lot of so-called free-market folks into so-called socialist really quick. I hope I am wrong and I don't want that to happen because there will be a lot of social turmoil.
This story has a lot of good information about how the number of people in the workforce has been shrinking due to the aging of the population and people having fewer children.
https://www.uschamber.c
This is from the chmber of Congress
We hear every day from our member companies—of every size and industry, across nearly every state—that they're facing unprecedented challenges trying to find enough workers to fill open jobs. Right now, the latest data shows that we have 8 million job openings in the U.S. but only 6.8 million unemployed workers.
The other issue of course is how much does the job pay. Having 10 jobs that pay $40,000 a year is not the same as 5 jobs that pay $80,000.
As an example AI can take over the job of someone taking reservations at a restaurant over the phone. It should not be that complex to have AI take over that function but it also opens the person up to be able to do other work than answer the phone.
Taken one step further you have an issue with something you purchased from Amazon needs to be returned your first option is to chat with a Bot and many times it can arrange a return for you. This takes takes the need to chat with someone from a 3rd world country but the job is very basic and requires no skill to speak of which is why AI can handle it. For the issues requiring a person they can now afford to pay someone a little more money for that 2nd level job since the first level is a bot. I have had conversations with a few companies, Delta Airlines most recently where the level 2 real person was very helpful and wanted to make sure I had no other questions.
So yes some jobs going away some new jobs but AI and automation will be replacing people who do repetitive and low level tasks for the most part.
Now I am lucky in that I provide computer support for a closed network so no AI no work from home options. But like everything at one time they had 5 people doing support now there are 2. The 5 people did not do a very good job and that was one of the reasons their jobs were cut and it has taken over 4 years to get the systems back to where they should be. COVID was an accelerant to this issue but it would have happened. The 5 people did everything they could to resist any kind of automation and in the end they lost their jobs because they were not willing to embrace the changes. The funny part is the monitoring and upgrading required would have required the staff of 5. Instead I am supporting a Windows network that has not been upgraded for years.
So to me embrace the change and look for other places to apply your skills. I do password resets and have tried to push for an automated system but they do not want to pay for the cost of the software as they will still have to pay for 2 support people.
In this situation, unions sound like a good idea. Maybe they can negotiate pay structures that add some flexibly and dignity. A lower base salary with a bonus system motivates and rewards high performance without it being an absolute requirement. The cost for production can be similar, but with a different psychology.
Unions may also help negotiate realistic definitions or options for contract work vs. benefits eligibility.