Plow Operators Object to GPS Tracking System

An anonymous reader writes "The Boston Globe is reporting on a dispute between private plowing contractors and the state highway department. The state has mandated all trucks to equip with GPS enabled cellphones for tracking. The drivers have refused, just in time for a big winter storm. The latest seems to be that they have reached a compromise (no details yet), but the dispute highlights the public safety versus employee privacy issue. Presumably plowing could be more efficient and possibly save lives during storms if the trucks could be tracked.. a good thing. Or is this simply a step closer to an Orwellian society, where the State knows where we all are?" This earlier story does a much better job of detailing their grievances - apparently it's about money as much as anything, with the GPS tracking system being only a secondary issue.

Comments

This is contractual, not about privacy

[orthogonal]

Privacy issue my ass.

It's a contractual issue.

The employer (which happens to be the state) wants to know if the employee is really doing the work (or as much of the work as) the employee claims.

This is not about tracking where I go after work, or if I visit my mistress for an extra-martial screw.

It's all about ensuring the state gets what it pays for, and any tracking is done exclusively during the employee's work.

This is legal, and this is good.

Re:This is contractual, not about privacy

[strider_starslayer]

Don't forget this is also about accountability. My cousin living just outside of New York was nearly hit by a plough and just barely managed to jump out of the way, the plough then took off the grill on the front of his truck and he got sprayed with rocks as the thing went screaming past; he sent the bill to the city, the city had to pay it, but he was told that the city was very upset with this because it happened all over and all the plough operators were blaming the independent plough operators, and all the independent plough operators were blaming the company plough operators- ultimately the city had to swallow the bill itself without being able to pass it on to the guilty party despite the fact that my cousin had an accurate time for when the incident happened. With GPS tracking that won't happen again, they'll simply look up who was where, determine wither or not they were actually there, and present the bill to the proper party. I can see how many people would not like this accountability, but I'm surprised that there aren't any Plough operators who are all for this- since it will let those who are good at there job shine, and keep there job while those who are lazy/sloppy will finally get there's and be fired.

Re:This is contractual, not about privacy

[Sycraft-fu]

My supervisor has the right, if he wishes, to stand in my cubicle during the entire day and what what I do. He has the right to monitor me in other ways, if he wishes, as well. However, the instant I'm off work, he loses that power.

When you're at work, you're on your employer's dime. If they want to watch you all the time, that's their deal. If they want to install a camera in your office, that's fine. If you don't like it, quit. I have a friend that had the camera thing done to him and he DID quit. IT was his employer's right to play Big Brother and watch him and his right to tell them to stick it up their ass and get a new job.

Also contractors not agreeing to terms is NOT case closed. In many industries, it's not hard to find replacements.

What privacy concerns?

[jeeves99]

If you are being paid to plow a street, shouldn't the state be allowed to audit whether you've done the work or not? It seems that the only people who would/should be concerned here are those that are overcharging the state.

Oftentimes I find that the claims of "big brother" or misquotes of Orwell are made by those striving to protect their illicit activities.

Re:What privacy concerns?

[ciaran_o_riordan]

us American's have a natural and benificial mistrust of big business and big government!

hahhhah *cough* PATRIOT ACT *cough* ahahaha
RIAA, MPAA, Bush, Haliburton, Enron, DMCA, Microsoft, etc. etc..