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Google, Apple and Others Accused of 'No Poaching' Deal
lightbox32 writes "According to the Wall Street Journal, several of the US's largest technology companies, which include Google, Apple, Intel, Adobe, Intuit and Pixar Animation, are in the final stages of negotiations with the Justice Department to avoid a court battle over whether they colluded to hold down wages by agreeing not to poach each other's employees. 'The Justice Department would have to convince a court not just that such accords existed, but that workers had suffered significant harm as a result. The companies may not want to take a chance in court. If the government wins, it could open the floodgates for private claimants, even a class action by employees. A settlement would allow the Justice Department to halt the practice, without the companies having to admit to any legal violations.'"
I think it's very possible that Steve Jobs is at the heart of this. Take in the factor the common knowledge that Steve Jobs has always been a nickel and dimer with Apple having long been one of the lowest paying big name hi-tech firms in the Bay Area. So seeing both Pixar and Disney on this list is not in the least bit surprising. Then you take a look at Google and ask "How did that happen?" Well, considering that Eric Schmidt was an Apple board member not too long ago, the answer once again is Steve Jobs. Intel's and Jobs' relations have also been buddy-buddy and though Adobe and Steve's have been publicly acrimonious, they are still very close.
Not saying that this is indeed a fact, but considering half the companies on that list have Jobs at the helm and the others have direct dealings with him, it's hard not to bring this up.
Frankly, Jobs has looked like a bigger jerk than ever since he got his iLiver. For me at least, his image just keeps sinking lower and lower.
Shouldn't the companies be free to collude to avoid paying higher wages? Isn't that what capitalism is all about?
Government should be small so that it won't interfere with the rights of these legal corporate "persons."
If the employees don't like it they can leave. It's a free market!!!
When the companies get big enough, they will take over the day to day power in our lives. Then we won't even need a government!
The tea party dream!