this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2024

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Strange, isn't it? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 138 points 8 months ago (2 children)

When the term "essential worker" was coined, it made many of the people it applied to feel flattered. They were considered essential! However this is a misunderstanding of what a capitalist is saying. The term "essential" doesn't actually refer to the worker. They consider the work essential. It is very important that those jobs are carried out. The worker that does it though is irrelevant, and considered fungible.

You know how corporations have a department called "Human Resources?" That's exactly the mindset. Your job is essential, but you are expendable.

[–] Zess 15 points 8 months ago

Never heard anyone be flattered when called an essential employee. Mostly they just say "if I'm essential then pay me more."

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[–] [email protected] 57 points 8 months ago (2 children)

A recent Unlearning Economics Live video had Cahal mentioning that it was pretty easy to identify essential workers, and if that's the case we should earmark housing for those workers in the relevant areas. If it's been so easy to classify them, there should probably be other similar accomodations (eg tax breaks) from a payment perspective.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Fuck earmark; appropriate from landlords; plenty of empty units.

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[–] dojan 36 points 8 months ago (52 children)

There is no such thing as unskilled labour.

[–] BradleyUffner 54 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Have you met any of my coworkers?

[–] lightnegative 3 points 8 months ago

My coworkers probably say this about me

[–] damnedfurry 8 points 8 months ago (2 children)

This is something only doofuses playing semantic games say.

"Unskilled labor" is a term with an established definition: it's work that you don't need special schooling or training beforehand to be qualified to be hired to do, and also generally means that someone who is hired to do it can be fully trained to do the work to a satisfactory level within a month.

[–] Serinus 7 points 8 months ago

And you absolutely do get better at the job over time. A seasoned employee doing nearly anything is better at it if they've done it a few years.

[–] MutilationWave 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I work a job that can be taught to most people. Although you do need to be strong and be ok with a lot of travel. General dexterity and familiarity with hand tools helps immensely. I am also a college dropout. I have had very few of my trainees fail to last at least a year. I am so much, almost infinitely better at it than a new hire though.

The other part of my argument here is I coordinate constantly with people who have multiple certifications all the way up to advanced degrees. Every single one of them I've spoken to about it says that their work is roughly 90% learned on the job. To me this makes the certifications and degrees they earned 90% worthless, except that education got their foot in the door to actually learn the job.

We need an overhaul in the way we think about qualifications for jobs. I think college education is a wonderful thing that generally creates a more well rounded individual, and I am grateful that I was able to spend a few years doing it. But pushing people into massive debt so they have a chance to get their foot in the door for a better paycheck is fucking insane.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

There are jobs where you need to trust people to not abuse their power more than others, though.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Easy enough. Set minimum wage for essential workers. (And raise minimum wage.) Declare a holiday for everyone for a month.

Everyone that works is essential.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago

I like your way of thinking.

Actually, Unions tend to do something similar with overtime and weekend pay.

If the factory needs you at night or in the weekend, they gotta pay up.

[–] nucleative 6 points 8 months ago

No, no, no, you misunderstood. Essential doesn't mean highly paid. They are the suckers who are left doing the dirty work that keeps high society moving but of course they'll get the lowest possible wage if they can be replaced easily.

[–] Pilferjinx 4 points 8 months ago

We really need to fuck with money. All of these labels are a tool to make as much profit as possible.

[–] FlyingSquid 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Any time any worker drives past a "heroes work here" banner (which I still see sometimes), they must think "if you believe I'm a hero, pay me better"

[–] Kage520 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think that's the idea. Heroes "do it for free". You don't see superman getting extra money from saving people. He holds a job. Same with Spiderman. Even Link has to pay rupees for his gear to save the world.

So businesses have figured out if they give you the praise of being a hero, they don't have to pay you. Just like a superhero would never ask for money, you shouldn't either, hero.

[–] jamyang 7 points 8 months ago

Let's not forget the humiliating ritual that is clapping hands for medical professionals and delivery folks during Covid pandemic.

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