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A comment on Amazon reportedly has Pinkerton agents surveil workers who try to form unions. Parent comment

Re:Amazon reportedly has Pinkerton agents surveil workers wh... by jodrellblank on Thursday December 03, 2020 @02:24PM (#25293326)
If given a free choice of literally anything they could do to contribute to the world, do you think Amazon warehouse employees would put Amazon warehouse work as their primary choice? Something they said they wanted to do "when they grow up"? "Something with dehumanising conditions, please!"

If not, what is your answer to the quesiton "why are they doing this job at all"?

Because they have to do something, and this is the best they can do? Then "have to do something" is the force, and they are the forced.

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Re:Amazon reportedly has Pinkerton agents surveil workers wh... by JackFr on Thursday December 03, 2020 @03:56PM (#25294778)
So by offering an alternative better than any other available, Amazon is the bad guy? What about all the companies not offering them alternatives?
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Re:Amazon reportedly has Pinkerton agents surveil workers wh... by jodrellblank on Thursday December 03, 2020 @07:40PM (#25297550)
I didn't say "Amazon is the (one and only) bad guy", or anything about bad guys at all. I said "if they aren't opting out, there is a force compelling them to be there".

You say "who is forcing them? Why don't they quit?" and yet ... they don't quit, and you (apparently?) think there is no reason why.

I don't think the force is a single person or company. I think it's the economic and social system we live in has become (intentionally or not) tuned to keep as many people as desperate as it can, because those are the kind of people who will work longer and harder for less money.

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Re:Amazon reportedly has Pinkerton agents surveil workers wh... by selectodude on Thursday December 03, 2020 @04:38PM (#25295468)
They used to offer them alternatives but Amazon put those companies out of business. The idea that it’s Amazon or homelessness doesn’t really make Amazon look better.
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