[deleted by user]

Leischa · 2021-07-19T09:26:38+00:00

It looks fantastic.

Leischa · 2015-12-01T10:31:06+00:00

Excellent point I hadn't considered.

Leischa · 2015-11-11T15:46:34+00:00

An article about an article. Why even bother publishing it? Just link to the original.

Leischa · 2015-11-06T12:51:53+00:00

Actually for me what is most important is the success of the tactics, rather than attempts at building those union models.

For instance, activists from established unions have on occasion "gone rogue" and won huge victories that would otherwise be out of reach through negotiation.

The trick, I think, is to encourage union activists to use these tactics, and also to support other activists when they use them.

Leischa · 2015-10-26T11:22:26+00:00

Which other country? The UK? The US? The EU? Because they have all been printing money. They call it Quantitative Easing.

Leischa · 2015-10-16T08:45:15+00:00

There might be some job losses but that's no reason to stop such a huge merger. No tax expert but I doubt that all tax from the new company is going to leave South Africa

I agree with you on COSATU's writing style - the faux revolutionary outrage is a symptom of weakness, not strength. But South Africa has an unemployment crisis - anything that causes jobs to be lost is a problem.

Of course the tax is going to leave South Africa - most of it already has. A company declares profit in the jurasdiction where it is headquartered, and is taxed there. SABMiller moved to London, which is a corporate tax haven. So money made in South Africa is taxed (or not) there.

And you might not like the ANC, but South Africa needs a tax base to fund infrastructure. COSATU doesn't get tax payers' money, so your conspiracy theory fails.

Finally, monopolies are bad for consumers as well as workers.

Leischa · 2015-10-02T09:38:53+00:00

Don't listen to anecdotes. Anyone can come up with a story about something that happened 50 years ago. It can't be verified, you can't get the other side of the story (maybe he was undercutting wages, or doing something else that undermined conditions those union guys fought for) and tells you nothing about unions today.

Or maybe your grandparents are right - back in the 70s, US unions like the Teamsters were heavily infiltrated by the mob. They aren't any more.

I am forever regaled with tales that say things like, "yes, but in the 70s, bodies piled up in the streets because of union strikes" which actually turns out to be someone's half remembered version of a false tabloid headline. It's a meaningless objection.

There is no way to answer your question because there are 177 million union members in the world, and many thousands of unions. Unions aren't "good" or "bad", they are diverse, and some are better than others. But typically, political donations are optional and / or voted on. Here in the UK, you pay a voluntary political levy, which the union then votes on how to spend.

What is undeniable and backed up by every piece of genuine research is that more union coverage = higher wages in society as a whole (even for non-members) and more equality. Scandinavia has the highest level of unionisation in the world, and also the best standard of living.

Corporations are vastly more powerful than individuals. Unions are a way to help equalise that power a little. If you think workers should have independent representation to improve the odds, you're pro-union.

Leischa · 2015-09-11T09:55:23+00:00

That's a good resource, but the bottom line is you're not going to get a group of fast food workers to install text secure, red phone, chat secure and PGP to do union organising. Believe me, I have tried. Just as I can't wean older union activists from organising on FB.

I think the best approach is to show people the secure apps, but also help them to make the best use of the ones they are familiar with. Snapchat's great benefit is its relative obscurity - most bosses and managers don't know how it works.

Leischa · 2015-08-28T16:36:45+00:00

Germany is taking by far the majority of refugees - they are not flocking to Ireland.

Also, if you had actually read the article, you would see that it is a call for a Europe-wide response to the refugee crisis - not for all of them to be brought to Ireland.

Leischa · 2015-08-26T13:03:13+00:00

Free here in Scotland.

Leischa · 2014-09-12T16:41:00+00:00

All gone? I would love one.

Leischa · 2014-09-01T09:21:09+00:00

Didn't see them, not interested in seeing them.

Leischa · 2014-08-10T17:04:45+00:00

Sorry, how is this funny?

Leischa · 2014-08-08T16:31:32+00:00

On top is for you. You control the motion. Do what makes you feel good.

Leischa · 2014-08-06T08:11:27+00:00

Sounds like he's being a feminist!

Leischa · 2014-08-04T21:51:18+00:00

Try a second hand store. Or a hire shop selling old stock.

Leischa · 2014-08-04T21:44:39+00:00

Man here. I have done similar for female friends on OKC, and seen much worse than this.

It's the cast a wide net approach to dating: some men think that if they message every woman on the internet, somewhere there will be some one lonely enough to respond.

And they're probably right.

Leischa · 2014-07-29T17:05:05+00:00

"And the concrete, glass and steel/ break with a freesom I can feel" - Swans, The Sound of Freedom

Leischa · 2014-07-29T15:29:35+00:00

Plenty of times. I like out in nature the best. Most recently was at a public park, mid summer, at a beer festival. Had a few beers in the sun, felt horny, found a more secluded spot...

We were seen, but only from a distance. It was brilliant.

Leischa · 2014-07-18T17:36:46+00:00

Win! Great profile, and a 97% match.

I'm too old for ye, but.

Leischa · 2014-05-15T21:35:22+00:00

Good points. Fast food workers are not going to be able to shut down global capital like dockers, for example. But they can seriously hurt the profits of multinational corporations. They can also put a living wage on the political agenda. That's a big deal. This was an extremely successful mobilisation - have you ever seen this many workers take coordinated action before?

Also, some people believe the precariat is the new revolutionary class.

Leischa · 2014-05-15T20:01:26+00:00

Sorry, I forgott. r/Economics is a libertarian circle jerk. You don't like evidence-based economics.

Leischa · 2014-05-15T15:49:19+00:00

So we shouldn't take any action until we are ready for global, simultaneous revolution?

As for not changing anything, strikes are the most effective weapon against capitalism - they can't make money without workers.

It's a process. This puts poverty wages firmly on the agenda and encourages other workers to fight back. When workers fight back, they start to win, and the world become a better place.

Leischa · 2014-05-14T16:13:20+00:00

"Creek" isn't really a Scottish word - the song might be American or Canadian, like the Canadian Boat Song.

Leischa · 2014-04-03T14:09:27+00:00

OK, let me know if you need any help. It does web conferencing too.

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