Hillary and the business model of the gig ecomony

[riversedge]

I saw a segment on msnbc which was quick to sign the praises of Uber but only a one sentence about the actual workers saying they were independent contractors without explaining what that meant. That said I worked as an independent contractor once--pay was OK but the company does not pay into matching funds for Medicare nor Social Security to name one downfall. There also was no guarantee for 40 hr work day --which seldom happened. I did not work for that company for long.




Other views also in the article...



Uber is becoming a big issue in the 2016 presidential race



......In New York, for example, the ride-share app is picking a fight with Mayor Bill de Blasio for backing ................

Hillary Clinton

Uber, and the ever expanding gig economy, has Clinton a little worried. During her first major economic policy address of the presidential race, delivered at the New School in Manhattan on Monday, Clinton failed to mention Uber by name, but voiced her hesitation to fully embrace its business model.

"This on demand or so called gig economy is creating exciting opportunities and unleashing innovation, but it is also raising hard questions about workplace protections and what a good job will look like in the future," said Clinton.

Much of her concern was related to the treatment of workers by gig economy-styled companies rather the services themselves. And while she offered no clear plan, she said she wouldn't hesitate to offer gig economy-focused policy directives in the future.

"I'll crack down on bosses who exploit employees by misclassifying them as contractors, or even steal their wages," said Clinton during her speech.....

[Starry Messenger]

1. I'm glad she's talking about it.

Pink collar temping is another Silicon Valley problem.

I'm always surprised by the defense Uber gets on DU. Even people who claim to be pro-labor and "socialist." It's a libertarian business model. They have gone into the business of auto loans to its drivers now too, which is really quite company store.

[George II]

2. Sadly, things like this aren't new...

...Years ago I worked for a company consistently rated one of the top best corporations to work for. One Friday they laid off 32 full-time hourly workers and then, the next Monday morning they were all back at their jobs as "temporary" workers. Same hours, same hourly pay, but no vacation or sick time, no health insurance, etc. They did pay their share of Social Security (it wasn't easy to skirt that)

Five years later when I left the company, most of those 32 were still at their no-benefit "temporary" jobs.

[Iliyah]

3. This is the model for future jobs in America and it sucks

The template for such, look no further than Walmart.

This is the GOPs wet dream for America. WI is one of it's prime examples, as well as other run GOP states. Destroying Unions for the past 30 years was and still is a well oiled plan.