Lounge of Tomorrow - Hollywood's Writers' Strike

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan (Post 184139)

Ah well then this is a point upon which we can most assuredly disagree good sir. I believe in personal responsibility in all things, including the control of ones livelihood. I don't believe it is up to the collective, society, government or unions to protect me or anyone in such things. It is up to the individual to ensure their skills and talents with which they chose to pursue a career are kept fresh and relevant enough to have value to an employer who will compensate them at a level commensurate with the expectations of said individuals lifestyle of choosing.

It's not so much a matter of treating people in such a way as it is in people bettering themselves in the pursuit of happiness be it inner fulfillment or material goods or experiences. Instead of waiting for someone to give you what you feel it is you need or deserve, it is the individuals responsibility to earn it and take it. If that is not an option with your current employer than one should seek alternative options.

Back to the commodity point briefly. I would argue that above most other forces in the employment world, it is unions that commodities individuals. Therefore, the beef should perhaps be with them. The unions don't negotiate on an individuals behalf (though they can defend one in certain proceedings) but rather negotiate and arbitrate for the masses. They roll everyone up to their job title be it writer, Welder I, Chassis Sub-Assembler or what have you. It is precisely this commoditization that in the case of unskilled labor removes the incentive to excel. I don't believe this is necessarily the same case with skilled talent, but the argument could still be made I am quite sure.

With all due respect, hogwash!

Companies nowadays want one thing, the cheapest labor they can find. They have no interest, whatsoever, in your personal fulfillment. Having the proper skills and talents, no matter how up to date they are, will not guarantee good wages for you if there is someone who can do it for less pay. Corporations don’t give a damn about their employees, only profit.

Unions aren’t perfect, but they are a hell of a sight better than giving in to the mega corps, and becoming the virtual slaves they would have us be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBear (Post 184160)

Companies nowadays want one thing, the cheapest labor they can find. They have no interest, whatsoever, in your personal fulfillment. Having the proper skills and talents, no matter how up to date they are, will not guarantee good wages for you if there is someone who can do it for less pay. Corporations don’t give a damn about their employees, only profit.

With all due respect, hogwash!

I deal with FAR too many people whose only interest is to see how little they can get away with in their jobs. Far too few people are held personally responsible. And I believe that this is MUCH truer on the employee level than it is on the upper management level.

I have experienced very few people who, when they make an effort to make themselves valuable to their employers, are not compensated. Just showing up is not of value to an employer - actually using your brain is. No, it is not a guarantee, but it is certainly gives one a MUCH higher probability of success. In the industry I am in (the printing industry: one of the largest in terms of sales volume in the US and the world), there is and has been a severe shortage of skilled employees. Consequently, the people who DO have the skills in their respective fields are well compensated. Those who chose to not keep their skills up-to-date are finding themselves making less and having a harder time finding work.

The laws on the books today are very much to the benefit of the employee. The employer is so handcuffed today, it makes it extremely difficult to "abuse" an employee in any way.

Most employees don't give a crap about their employers. They would leave at the first chance they got.

Would you pay the same price for a lower quality item?
Would you take a job that pays less if everything else is the same?

I'm having a hard time keeping up with this thread. Writers and tits. Strikes and boobies. Is there a connection?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid (Post 184179)

I'm having a hard time keeping up with this thread. Writers and tits. Strikes and boobies. Is there a connection?

Yeah, I have been enjoying the dichotomy!

Kevy, I agree that many employees are as you say. However, I disagree that the laws strongly favor employees. While there are surely cases where people claim discrimination where none exists, my sense is that there are far more cases that are ignored by people who don't want to carry the stigma of having sued their employer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid (Post 184179)

I'm having a hard time keeping up with this thread. Writers and tits. Strikes and boobies. Is there a connection?

Ultimately just about everything is somehow connected to tits and/or boobies.

isn't it?

Some writers have tits...

I have worked for a company that put profits over workers and that company is currently failing. It's suffering from one downsize after another. There is severely poor morale. Everyone is overworked and underpaid. Those who wise up to how poorly they are being treated and feel they can find something better are leaving. I left after 1 year employment there. When I tried to renegotiate my wages they tried to convince me I was being paid what should be expected for my level of experience and that I wouldn't find better anywhere else. I'm positive they are telling the same lies to everyone else. Fortunately I knew better and left.

I'm currently working for another company that appreciates skill and knows how to compensate fairly. They know they need to pay well to keep the skill from leaving. I'm now getting paid more than what I was asking my last employer for.

Seeking the lowest price over quality is a recipe for disaster. You really do get what you pay for.

That goes for boobies too.

GD, NM, I think we can find some middle ground here. In a perfect capitalist economy, where everyone has all the information they need about pricing, their own personal value, etc., there is no need for unions. However, since it is nearly impossible for everyone to have all the information available to them, people make choices that they "logically" shouldn't, because they don't know that someone out there will pay/treat them better. The companies, likewise, do not always know that they're underpaying, and certainly if people who don't know any better are willing to work for a wage, then the companies have no motivation to pay more.

I guess Unions are the market's attempts to right itself.

Not saying I like unions, but I can see the role they play in trying to even the score.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill (Post 184195)

That goes for boobies too.

Amen brutha!