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Unions Can Save Tech Workers and Tech Work (jacobin.com)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/msafe@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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7 comments in c/technology@lemmy.world view that post
[–] 23 points 3 months ago (6 children)

Worker owned companies are the way forward.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago* (4 children)

    Tech work can be highly volatile in the business environment. Maybe its different for new tech workers entering the work force, but for a worker owned company, this can mean large losses of revenue for months. I don't know many tech workers that are willing to take a massive pay cut to continue to stay and commit to a worker owned company if they personally can find better paying work elsewhere.

    From the article:

    "The playful atmosphere of tech offices flush with investment, enjoying luxe catered lunches to attract programming talent, has been replaced by a looming fear that layoffs are just around the corner "

    This boom-and-bust cycle of tech growth and devastation has happened three times during my IT career. Its even more frequent in specific IT niche industries.

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago* (3 children)

    I think the boom and bust cycle of tech is result of capitalists trying to make big bets and then mostly failing.

    With worker owned companies, you wouldn’t have this type of risky investing. Workers would optimization not for massive returns, but sustainable business practices, products, working conditions. A worker owned company wouldn’t burn cash for 10 years, artificially keeping prices low to starve out competition.

    In order to transition to worker owned companies, it would be difficult as you mention, but governments could provide financial to help to get worker owned companies started.

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  • [–] -1 points 3 months ago* (2 children)

    In order to transition to worker owned companies, it would be difficult as you mention, but governments could provide financial to help to get worker owned companies started.

    Hang on. You're proposing seizure of existing private companies and forcing the creation of the worker co-ops? Thats a very different thing. Should I assume your system would ban future private companies then?

    I wouldn't agree either of those approaches. Choice is important. Forcing people into co-ops because you think its better for them isn't a system I'm interested in being inside.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    No I wasn’t suggested it be forced or companies be nationalized.

    I was saying governments could provide incentives and support for workers to form worker owned companies. At the moment western governments heavily favor formation of capitalist companies.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    No I wasn’t suggested it be forced or companies be nationalized.

    My mistake then. So in your proposed system private companies would continue to exist.

    I was saying governments could provide incentives and support for workers to form worker owned companies.

    If that's the case, I'll go back to my first statement then. Tech workers will likely choose the higher risk but higher reward private company rather than one that my only have a modest return. If the private companies exist along side the co-ops, the boom and bust cycles will still exist except the co-ops won't be the beneficiary, but will certainly be on the losing side of cycles.

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    • 2 comments in c/technology@lemmy.ml view that post
    [+] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 child)
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    • [–] -5 points 3 months ago

    Save them from what, the consequences of their own work.

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    2 comments in c/unions@sh.itjust.works view that post
    [–] 10 points 3 months ago

    Are there good resources for finding union tech jobs? I see them every so often on regular job boards but it would be nice if there were a site just for union hiring.

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    [–] 7 points 3 months ago

    I'm doing my part!

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    2 comments in c/hackernews@lemmy.bestiver.se view that post
    [–] 3 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Where do I sign up?

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