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comment by rjw
rjw  ·  2727 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Shake it up. Offer up one somewhat unpopular opinion that you hold.

If you want better working conditions, resist technological advancement. If you want technological advancement, start a union.

Here's a scenario: a load of workers on a farm demand better pay and living conditions. The owner of the farm introduces farming equipment that means only half as many people need to work as before. Half the employees are consequently laid off. If the remaining employees go on strike now, they can be easily replaced with the unemployed (who are now hungry). Alternative scenarios: all the employees remain but on shorter/irregular hours, or they are replaced with more but less skilled (i.e. easier to replace) workers.