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It's International Workers Day

FandyienFandyien But Otto, what about us? Registered User regular
edited May 2012 in Social Entropy++
It's also may day, but who cares about maypoles and flowers and stuff? Today, pathetic fuckers in low-wage jobs everywhere celebrate the fact that lots of people don't think they're scum! Unless you're super rich or permanently unemployed, labor laws and practices are relevant to your immediate interests! And even if you are one of those things, they should still be important because human decency.

"International Workers' Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, which occurred after an unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at police as they dispersed a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday. In response, the Chicago police fired on the workers killing dozens of demonstrators and several of their own officers.[1][2][3][4] In 1889, the first congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests.[5] May Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International's second congress in 1891.[citation needed]

Subsequently, the May Day Riots of 1894 occurred. In 1904, the International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam called on "all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace." The congress made it "mandatory upon the proletarian organizations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers."[6]

In many countries, the working classes sought to make May Day an official holiday, and their efforts largely succeeded. May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Haymarket martyrs, usually at dawn.[7] May Day has been an important official holiday in countries such as the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba and the former Soviet Union. May Day celebrations typically feature elaborate popular and military parades in these countries."

You guys can probably all guess how I feel about agitating for labor reform, so lets hear it for the history of the unimportant man, the marginalized dude, the hardworking lady, and all of the vast swathes of sweaty, determined people that make society work

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7NPuK_QhEk

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Fandyien on
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Posts

  • The GeekThe Geek Oh-Two Crew, Omeganaut Registered User, ClubPA regular
    I'm working on Workers' Day.

    Does that work?

    BLM - ACAB
  • BroloBrolo Broseidon Lord of the BroceanRegistered User regular
    BLOODY PEASANTS

  • The GeekThe Geek Oh-Two Crew, Omeganaut Registered User, ClubPA regular
  • CogliostroCogliostro Marginal Opinions Spring, TXRegistered User regular
    Well, I worked for 7 hours of it. I just got off work this morning. I will be back to work tomorrow morning for another 24 hour shift :>

  • JayKaosJayKaos Registered User regular
    Shit that reminds me, my dad is probably going to be at whatever OWS stuff is happening in Manhattan today. Hope shit doesn't go down.

    Steam | SW-0844-0908-6004 and my Switch code
  • Raijin QuickfootRaijin Quickfoot I'm your Huckleberry YOU'RE NO DAISYRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    I work 11-7:30 today. I know that I'm scum.

  • FandyienFandyien But Otto, what about us? Registered User regular
    if you have to go into work today take five minutes to encourage people to appreciate unions

    reposig.jpg
  • BroloBrolo Broseidon Lord of the BroceanRegistered User regular
    Fandyien wrote: »
    if you have to go into work today take five minutes to encourage people to appreciate unions

    you mean

    communism

  • Raijin QuickfootRaijin Quickfoot I'm your Huckleberry YOU'RE NO DAISYRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    What does this job pay?

    Nothing.

    Doh!

    Unless you're crooked

    WOO HOO!

  • HunterHunter Chemist with a heart of Au Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    BLOODY PEASANTS

    Come and see the violence inherent in the system!

  • FandyienFandyien But Otto, what about us? Registered User regular
    we, the socialists of the internet, will form a new revolutionary party

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb_qHP7VaZE

    reposig.jpg
  • HunterHunter Chemist with a heart of Au Registered User regular
    What have the Romans ever done for us?

  • HarrierHarrier The Star Spangled Man Registered User regular
    WOOO MAY DAY. Liberty, prosperity, camaraderie!

    I don't wanna kill anybody. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from.
  • BrainleechBrainleech 機知に富んだコメントはここにあります Registered User regular
    Cogliostro wrote: »
    Well, I worked for 7 hours of it. I just got off work this morning. I will be back to work tomorrow morning for another 24 hour shift :>

    Always fun
    I remember working a 24 hour shift not aware of the time since I was in a locked room with no clock and one window that looked into an office. I was told we were there at that point for 27 hours to go home and come back tomorrow

  • Beef AvengerBeef Avenger Registered User regular
    [citation needed]

    Steam ID
    PSN: Robo_Wizard1
  • LTMLTM Bikes and BeardsRegistered User regular
    Also, outdoor fucking starts today. So we've got that going for us.

  • TurambarTurambar Independent Registered User regular
    Steam: turamb | Origin: Turamb | 3DS: 3411-1109-4537 | NNID: Turambar | Warframe(PC): Turamb
  • GumpyGumpy There is always a greater powerRegistered User regular
    Are you guys working hard or hardly working?

  • WietWiet Mao Mao Registered User regular
  • The GeekThe Geek Oh-Two Crew, Omeganaut Registered User, ClubPA regular
    Is listening to Daft Punk at work an appropriate way to commemorate the day?


    Because even if it's not, I'm still doing it.

    BLM - ACAB
  • FandyienFandyien But Otto, what about us? Registered User regular
    the only thing innapropriate to do today is be a strikebreaker/unethical rich person

    reposig.jpg
  • JayKaosJayKaos Registered User regular
    Fandyien wrote: »
    if you have to go into work today take five minutes to encourage people to appreciate unions

    It rarely comes up at work, but my boss is incredibly anti-union, which always worries me a little. We work in software so there's pretty much no chance of ever being directly involved with a union, but still. I usually keep us from being shitty with regards to our employment practices, but we're a very small company so saving money is a very big concern for us. I'm not usually involved in the specifics of hiring or firing either so I sometimes worry about whether or not we're taking advantage of some of our H-1B employees.

    Steam | SW-0844-0908-6004 and my Switch code
  • Sara LynnSara Lynn I can handle myself. Registered User regular
    I have today off

    TOO BAD SUCKERS

  • CogliostroCogliostro Marginal Opinions Spring, TXRegistered User regular
    Brainleech wrote: »
    Cogliostro wrote: »
    Well, I worked for 7 hours of it. I just got off work this morning. I will be back to work tomorrow morning for another 24 hour shift :>

    Always fun
    I remember working a 24 hour shift not aware of the time since I was in a locked room with no clock and one window that looked into an office. I was told we were there at that point for 27 hours to go home and come back tomorrow

    That's a normal shift for me, though. I work every other day for three shifts (Monday - Wednesday - Friday as it happens for this week) for a total of 72 hours of my standard shift and then have four days off in a row. Of course I will end up picking up an overtime shift or two on my 4 days off. I get paid more for working on a 12 hour ambulance because they tend to get shafted a lot more in terms of call volume... and it will be on overtime ($++). Sunday I will start a 36 hour shift, take 24 off and work a 48. The nice thing about this is I get butt tons of PTO built up. We build up so much PTO that we are only allowed to carry over 4 weeks (224 hours) of PTO from one year to the next... the rest we have to cash out or put in our retirement accounts.

    What? I have a vacation I'm saving for. Don't judge me :P

  • JoeUserJoeUser Forum Santa Registered User regular
    I'm a salaried employee exempt from any kind of overtime.

    Also, many of my colleagues are here on work visas, so they don't really have the option to quit without leaving the country.

  • CogliostroCogliostro Marginal Opinions Spring, TXRegistered User regular
    edited May 2012
    I would NEVER be a salaried employee unless I was making 6 figures or more. Companies use "Oh, you're salaried" to work you to death just so they don't have to pay more. You have my sympathies, Joe :(

    Cogliostro on
  • The GeekThe Geek Oh-Two Crew, Omeganaut Registered User, ClubPA regular
    JoeUser wrote: »
    I'm a salaried employee exempt from any kind of overtime.

    Ditto

    BLM - ACAB
  • ArangArang HUEY LEWISRegistered User regular
    edited May 2012
    Fandyien wrote: »
    the only thing innapropriate to do today is be a strikebreaker/unethical rich person

    death to scabs

    e: today is also loyalty day in the united states, which uh

    at least you have a labor day, I guess

    Arang on
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  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    but what about twerkers day

  • JayKaosJayKaos Registered User regular
    Arang wrote: »
    Fandyien wrote: »
    the only thing innapropriate to do today is be a strikebreaker/unethical rich person

    death to scabs

    e: today is also loyalty day in the united states, which uh

    at least you have a labor day, I guess

    Oh hey that's a real thing. Wow. Really sticking it to them commies, huh.

    Steam | SW-0844-0908-6004 and my Switch code
  • LTMLTM Bikes and BeardsRegistered User regular
    Cogliostro wrote: »
    I would NEVER be a salaried employee unless I was making 6 figures or more. Companies use "Oh, you're salaried" to work you to death just so they don't have to pay more. You have my sympathies, Joe :(

    It depends.

    I've been in this exact environment as you describe. I've also been in an environment where they respect my time, and I respect theirs (*cough*).

    It all comes down to standing up for yourself, and not letting yourself feel like you don't have a choice in the matter.

    Overtime laws need to be revamped, though. Shit is wack, yo.

  • ZibblsnrtZibblsnrt Registered User regular
    Cogliostro wrote: »
    I would NEVER be a salaried employee unless I was making 6 figures or more. Companies use "Oh, you're salaried" to work you to death just so they don't have to pay more. You have my sympathies, Joe :(

    The labour laws in my province mandate overtime pay after 48 hours in a week for most people (55 for people working in construction; ugh). The general assumption most people (including employers) have is that "salary = time for 168-hour workweeks!" though, which makes things a little interesting when someone points out where the law stands on that whole issue.

    It still means employers get to demand 8-15 free hours out of people a week, but someone who's, say, condemned to hundred-hour weeks because of an insane employer can at least get something to show for it.

  • The GeekThe Geek Oh-Two Crew, Omeganaut Registered User, ClubPA regular
    Cogliostro wrote: »
    I would NEVER be a salaried employee unless I was making 6 figures or more. Companies use "Oh, you're salaried" to work you to death just so they don't have to pay more. You have my sympathies, Joe :(

    Some, but not all.

    BLM - ACAB
  • UbikUbik oh pete, that's later. maybe we'll be dead by then Registered User regular
    i've never been salaried but aren't the hours/work expectations part of the contract? how can they just demand things of you after the fact?

    l8e1peic77w3.jpg

  • AntimatterAntimatter Devo Was Right Gates of SteelRegistered User regular
    The Geek wrote: »
    Is listening to Daft Punk at work an appropriate way to commemorate the day?


    Because even if it's not, I'm still doing it.
    you are only permitted to listen to Harder Better Faster Stronger and its remix from Alive 2007 if you left your house

    else, you may listen to Homework in addition

  • LTMLTM Bikes and BeardsRegistered User regular
    Rarely are hours written into a contract, at least in the IT area I'm familiar with.

  • WeaverWeaver Who are you? What do you want?Registered User regular
    I don't wear green on St. Pats 'cause I've no Irish in me. Today, I wear red.

  • MrMonroeMrMonroe passed out on the floor nowRegistered User regular
    Cogliostro wrote: »
    I would NEVER be a salaried employee unless I was making 6 figures or more. Companies use "Oh, you're salaried" to work you to death just so they don't have to pay more. You have my sympathies, Joe :(

    before law school I worked 40-45 hours/week tops and was salaried at only ~42k/year

    also this coming from the guy that does three 24-hour shifts per week is pretty hilarious

    It's odd that they do that to you (and to doctors), though, I would think that a hospital would understand how badly your performance degrades over that amount of time (not to mention how bad it is for you) and you're in such a safety-critical position. Like, I wonder how many lives are lost because of this culture of working people to the point of exhaustion in the healthcare industry?

  • JoeUserJoeUser Forum Santa Registered User regular
    Ubik wrote: »
    i've never been salaried but aren't the hours/work expectations part of the contract? how can they just demand things of you after the fact?

    Expectations can be set, but nothing in the contract. I work with people who regularly pull 60+ hour weeks, but they still just get their salary.

  • WeaverWeaver Who are you? What do you want?Registered User regular
    Way back in 2004, when I worked at the Verizon wireless call center, they did this thing with our pay where you're hourly rate was x-dollars, but as long as you did your full 40 for the week, your hours were paid at a higher rate, of a couple dollars more per hour.

    But say something happened where you missed 15-30 minutes, all of your hours were docked down to the lower rate.

This discussion has been closed.