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Temp Troops of High-Tech
A submitter sends in this story about
temp work in Silicon Valley, from the point of view of the temp. Compare almost the same story written from the point of view of Amazon.com's management.
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so in the first, we have a full on temp agency with no company employees working on site, workers are being manipulated, silenced and fired...essentially sounds like a terrible work environment.
/.ers and amazon? i am not holding amazon out as mother teresa of corporations, but having 3700 full time employees out of 4000 - that says to me that amazon at least gets it a little. sure, during xmas amazon is trying to squeeze every ounce of work out of its employees, but no where in that article does it mention abuse.
in the second (amazon), you have 7.5% of the work force as temp workers, with no mention of abuse, forced silence, etc.
and you want us to draw a comparision from the 1st to the 2nd?
flame all you want, but what is it with
what an unfair comparion...you ire should be directed at HP if you ask me.
/* Half alive and half dead too, work is for suckers and the sucker is you. - "Half-life" by Local H*/
Ummm. No, that's not what it says:
Amazon's warehouses employed only 4,000 temps and 3,700 full-time employees
So by my book that's 52%
In 2000 that number looks more like 62%...
The tactics described in this article here are very similar to the ones the large brands use on contract workers in the export zones in SE Asia. Naomi Klein describes it at length in her book NO LOGO.
Strange that these same management techniques which work so well on the poor and uneducated overseas are now being used domestically.
*** Where are we going? And what's with this handbasket?
One in particular has to do with foriegn programmers who are brought in with work visas. The hiring company holds both the visa and their passport. The programmers are threaten that if they don't work 12hrs a day, they'll be sent back. Typically, the programmers are paid 1/4-1/2 the wages of a citizen.
Yeah, I've heard these stories too, and they're mostly from foreigners-are-stealing-our-jobs and unionize-programming types. For a start, it's illegal to pay an H1B holder much less than an American doing the same job (either 90% or 75%, I can't remember offhand). H1B visas are bound to a company, true, but it is possible to transfer a visa between companies, and L1 visas require that you've worked for the company overseas for at least a year, unlikely if they treat their people badly. Finally, I don't believe that passports could be held. I've lived and worked in the US (I'm British) and frequently needed to present ID (for example, going into a bar, getting on a plane, etc) and I can tell you, you can't do much in the US without some form of ID, most Americans use their driving licences, and if you don't have one, you need your passport.
What's the alternative? Pay them $20 and hour and let them come and go as they please, or stop the line whenever they want to chat about their weekend? How willing are you to pay $500 for a printer that currently costs $125?
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I knew it was only a matter of time until this albatross argument arrived. You are flatly out to lunch.
According to this articleMrs.Fiorina made $69.4 Million Dollars last year, further, according to this blurb at hp.com in 2000 hp had 88,000 employees.
So, 6,9400,000 / 88,000 == $788.63. Our kind friends in the article, working for HP's bottom line, "pull in around $1000" per month.
For all the "wealth" created by HP, a single person, the CEO earns 75% of a month salary for EVERY EMPLOYEE*
What is it that Carly Fiorina does that affords her such phenomenal wealth and security? Why is she afforded the kind of kingly existence of comfort and un-imaginable security while those who MAKE THE WEALTH are forced to earn a pittance with zero security. Remember, it is not only the low wages that people have to contend with but the risk of being instantly unemployed without provocation.
I cannot fully explain the rage I feel at this situation, it exists all around us (and the world) -- this is the reality of Capitalism -- left unchanged it is guaranteed to get worse.
The world is in an uncomfortable place at the moment, out of control and heading in the absolutely wrong direction.. and most people of conscience recognize change is necessary. Sweeping, fundamental changes to the economic systems we employ.
Without a democratic solution to economic problems, (economically) powerless people will eventually revolt. It is not a debate of *if* but when, history has proven this -- and we are destined to allow it to repeat. Sad, very very sad.
Interesting Reading: The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.
So, explain now, what does paying equitable salary have to do with the choice you mentioned? It is simply a non-issue.
*i recognize that temps are not included in the 88k number, and therefore would be a smaller portion of Mrs.Fiorina's salary... but it really has no bearing on the concept.
Also, im not surprised at the complete lack of understanding of the reality of this situation displayed in this forum. People have been so overwhelmed by the rhetoric and dogma of Capitalism, Freedom and America that they are absolutely blind to the massive problems with the present system -- and our ability to build a better alternative for everyone.
At least as far as this article is concerned, the workers here were being paid well over minimum wage at $8 an hour. Yes with CA's cost of living that pay sucks, but it's the cost of living in CA. When I last checked, jobs in California didn't pay much more than they do where I live, but the cost of living was 2.5 to 3X of here.
Depending on your skills, one of the advantages of temping (of which I've done quite a bit of) is that you can LEAVE or be reassigned to another job if you hate it. Or you know you'll be out of there soon. Sometimes, I thanked my lucky stars that I didn't work somewhere permanently! At least you got to see it from the inside first! Yeah, it's work without the benefits, but also without the commitment on your part too.
I liked the variety of temping. How you're treated can depend on the atmosphere of the company, but it depends on your attitude too. I was amazed at the number of employers that would put up with sloppy work or chronically late (really late) temps.
One thing I did gain from temp work was walking into different situations and a broader background.
If you've never been modded as "flamebait" or "troll," you've never tried to argue a minority viewpoint here!
Like many posters, I've had low wge and menial jobs. I've worked hard and now have a great living, making 100K in the computer field.
However, not everyone can succeed. The advice to learn, get better, and you will succeed is good advice, but it doesn't work for everyone. Not only that, but there are many more important things than $$ or pesos or yen.
I wish the entertainment and sports world would learn this.
There are more important things than money. Now everyone needs to pay the rent, feed their family, etc. And doing that may be a problem, but and life may stink while you do it, but there is something to be said for a day's work and a day's pay. Be happy with your life. If you don't like your job, work to get another one, but also enjoy your life and your family. I wouldn't work twice the hours for twice the pay, but I'm in a good position. Hell, I wouldn't work 50% more for twice the pay.
I had the same attitude when I worked in a restaurant and worked 50 hours a week and barely made rent. While I tend to work more than the average joe, I need some free time and that time has a value. Often a value above that of my wage or salary.
I hate to have to say it again, but there are more important things than money. Even if you make $8 an hour.