SATRA now lords over us

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SATRA now lords over us; an interlude, unions on the internet = moving backwards

Phil M'Glassup

Amanda., would you be good enough to continue to include quicktime downloads of the show? The streaming doesn't work that well and ITunes isn't so hot either.
Thanks, Phil

http://amandacongdon.com amandacongdon

Hi Phil! Yep. We were experimenting with putting all our videos under 90 seconds long only on Flickr… but we are going to stop doing that because good people like you have been emailing and commenting and telling us to stop. Thanks for the feedback, it helps make us better. We are uploading a quicktime file as I write this. Thanks again.

A Critic

Unions are important for *any* workers.

Even those who work in “new media” need a union. If you take away unions, you deny them a common voice and destroy the only power workers have over corporate overlords who may try to short change, rob, abuse, and steal from their employees. It is important to fully understand what unions have given to the worker, and what they can continue to accomplish.

The underhistory of the last 100 years is a history of unions. It is important to understand how labor movements, or other organizations of the disenfranchised, can exert force on the powers-that-be by banding together and standing with one voice.

I cannot accept that the implementation of unions for online workers is in “moving backwards.” Our social history in the US and around the world has been formed by unions and labor movements as much as corporate culture.

I don't think you can glibly deny the importance and relevance of worker's movements (even digital ones) as we progress into the twenty-first century. It reveals a painful lack of understanding of history, context and culture.

http://amandacongdon.com amandacongdon

I don't think unions make sense online. At least not the way I– and many videobloggers I know– shoot online video. I'm very well aware of the context and history of unions and have worked on both union and non-union online shows. My knowledge is intimate on this topic … I think we simply disagree on this one, A Critic.
Rusty Rothwell

A Critic – With all do respect, I completely disagree with you.

Unions were once beneficial for raising wages and safety standards, however they are now a thing of the past; OSHA, various other regulatory bodies, and a free-market system now perform these necessary functions.

And too, the job market has completely changed – your average worker no longer makes one single career move. Rather, they bounce around from one job to another after gaining skill and experience. Thus, your typical person who is employed by a “corporate overlord” who is looking to “short change, rob, abuse, and steal” will simply jump ship to someone who values what they bring to the table.

And lets not forget how unions have ruined several VITAL American corporations. Should I mention GM or FORD? In this case, the union was only successful at a few things: driving up the cost of automobiles for American consumers, making the parent company so bureaucratic and unresponsive to the changing marketplace that it eventually became a snail, and ultimately costing millions of shareholders billions of dollars. (Toyota is smiling right now)

In my opinion, unions are leeches. They slowly suck the life out of the “host” – while breeding laziness amongst the workforce.

So yeah, we need unions in new media if you want to remove creativity, hard work, and your chances of survival.
Tom

It may be that I'm just to Libertarian, but it seems that forcing ANYONE to join ANY union for ANY reason is Communism in its worst form. If someone decides that he or she would like to work 80 hours a week for free, that's his or her prerogative.

mikeyfresh

Tom,
Are you aware that unions are in fact illegal in communist countries? A while ago I was China, even mentioning unions can there get you arrested.

Treding Water

I agree. As someone who is trying to break into the Entertainment industry, Unions work solely to screw over the hard at work actor. The benefits they once offered, such as healthcare, are not even relevant any more as a person can obtain a cobra plan through various channels, as well as many “day jobs” an actor has access to can and will offer healthcare. I only hope that once universal healthcare works effectively in the US, that Unions will either have to revamp their methods of operation, or go debunked.
A Critic

The 'empowerment' of the new technology worker is something of an illusion.

As far as employer vs employee—-Someday soon even these highly skilled workers might see a need to organize against their employers who steal their intellectual sweat and profit highly from it. Surely, these folks get paid more than factory workers, but the inequalities between worker and boss are still stark.

And politically—–While unions do not make sense on a small working-out-of-your-bedroom scale, it does make sense that connections between people in similar boats can strengthen the whole. At its core, a union is about strengthening community, taking disparate parts and banding them together into one voice. It's not about preventing creativity…its about protecting its parts and promoting creativity.

For example, to truly defeat threats to net neutrality a well-oiled organization would help. How can a bunch of relatively poor individuals compete with billion dollar lobbyists? But if an organization existed where millions of people could speak with one voice, then you might stand a chance of your voice being heard by lawmakers.

Community. Strength. Power. Isn't that a great part of what the Internet already is? A union is just a step further towards claiming your share of the voice that is consistently squashed by corporate money.

Rusty Rothwell

“Community. Strength. Power.” What union are you speaking of? It sounds great in theory, but that is not how things really work.

As an ex-union employee in college I experienced none of the above. I worked hard and forfeited $29 a month for people and a cause that I never had to make use of. Instead, my $29 a month was helping to pay for the union steward who was going to help “Lazy Mike” get his job back. Is that community???

And as for strength and power – you line the pockets of a select few and give them all the power. In the end, they are not there to help you, they are there to milk as much money as possible from the parent company – only to set the next regime up for an even better life. It's all politics… and a rat race. The unions want a nice bankroll just like any business.

Having said that, you do raise a good point about the net neutrality issue. However, ultimately, consumers can/will/should vote with their dollar. That is the most effective vehicle for change…

Greg

get rid of apple Quick time
http://www.idoitdigital.com Clintus

dont give up the girls!
mikeyfresh

Tom,
Are you aware that unions are in fact illegal in communist countries? A while ago I was China, even mentioning unions can there get you arrested.
mikeyfresh

Tom,
Are you aware that unions are in fact illegal in communist countries? A while ago I was China, even mentioning unions can there get you arrested.

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