This is what’s wrong with communist/neolib leftists. How on earth do you think people can just withdraw their labor power? Like how divorced from reality do you have to think you can just be like “stop working! That will show them!” Thats just… Just unbelievable
please tell me you’re taking the piss and have, in fact, heard of a strike before
noted organ of ‘neolib’ action… the general strike……….
@maglover your brain is a perfect egg
All unemployment in the modern age is a function of capital. Whether you are working or not working it will always benefit the billionaire class. This is the definition of class warfare, which if wasn’t obvious these last few days we are in a class war. In the 20th century, striking would have been an effective tool against this, but with the advancement in technology and the “gig-fying” of the economy, striking has become nearly useless. To continue to encourage it is the definition of neoliberalism.
do you think an uber strike would be ‘useless’
as an ex-gig worker i assure you that’s not the case. the fundamental relation of labor to how wealth is ‘made’ has not changed. the issues with previous uber strikes was that they were terribly organized as the workers have been atomized. and it’s not just the monied weirdos who feel the effects. my riders probably would not have enjoyed not having rides.
if you’re like “uber loses money every year. they’re propped up by venture capital money so it doesn’t matter what workers do,” futzing around with short stocks won’t change that either.
do you think those gains would have been greater without the pandemic, or with the pandemic?
what you’re suggesting is equivalent to saying turn of the century pieceworkers in the textile industry striking would not have had an effect.
sorry i called your brain an egg. your brain isn’t an egg.
Yes I’m saying an Uber strike is useless. Because as you said it’s been done before and in a gig economy all strikes are useless, there is infinite labour force now. The nature of Uber is nearly unlimited labour force. There is nothing to withdraw. You can’t even compare it to turn of the century conditions. That is what I am trying to say. Striking might have worked then but we’re living in a society that has squashed all the effectiveness striking has now.
The labor force is no more infinite than it was ages ago. How is the pool of people capable of driving for Uber any more limitless than working other jobs with no high barriers to entry?
A successful Uber strike would require collective planning, which is why previous attempts didn’t work. Uber drivers are way too atomized. This is the case with any kind of job where you don’t see your co-workers. It can be done, though. NYC taxi drivers have a fine model.
If labor organizing didn’t work, if it was an organizational relic, Amazon would not be shitting bricks at their Bessemer warehouse right now, hiring literal Pinkertons (yes THOSE Pinkertons) and making cutesy “but think of the dues you’d have to pay!” sites to discourage unions. If strikes were so harmless, Uber and Lyft would not have poured MILLIONS into Prop 22 in California. Charter schools would not be doing their damndest to stamp out teacher unions.
I say, follow the money.
Either the bosses are mistaken and burning money because they’re stupid, or they know strikes are a threat to their profit. And I know better now than to call people stupid when it comes to their profit.
(edited for clarity)