Work Reform

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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

Our Philosophies:

All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.

Our Goals

Higher wages for underpaid workers.
Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
Better and fewer working hours.
Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.

founded 3 years ago

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kat_angstrom@lemmy.world

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Being poor is expensive (discuss.online)

submitted 4 days ago by VetOfTheSeas@discuss.online to c/workreform@lemmy.world

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[–] orbitz@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Okay maybe I missed the Terry Prachett quote, but he wrote (paraphrasing) basically buying an awesome pair of boots that last takes decent coin, the people who need boots to last that long can never afford them so pay more for multiple cheap ones. Again paraphrased, but maybe it'll encourage more people to read him, think I read a few years ago but anytime anyone quotes him sounds worthwhile.

If this was said, I apologize, sort of quickly scrolled to check so may have missed. But seriously why do we make things so expensive to be less well off? Sounds downright stupid, unless you're making the dough I imagine. We should be making sure people can live comfortably especially with multiple jobs (though again not my preferred outcome, why should anyone need to work more than one full time job anyway?)

I just wish people could be comfortable with a single job even as a single parent if they need or would like to raise a kid. Though also think we're a tad overpopulated but that's not this discussion and still think if we allow it as a society then it should be possible as a single parent.

I am no kids person for the record, dated some mothers over the years but currently a dink (dual income no kids) more an 80s term.

[–] Dry_Monk@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The original, excellent passage:

The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

[–] orbitz@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Thanks for the whole bit, he wrote it much better than I ever could and in a way that makes it simple to understand. The mark of a good writer, which from what I understand he was. Okay I need to check out more of his stuff.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I bought my son three Terry Prachett books two Christmas' ago, including Men at Arms, because I hear so much about them on here.

He hasnt read them yet and it makes me sad.

[–] orbitz@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Maybe one of the things he comes back in x years going, I loved those books! (After not reading for years) Mean one can hope but you least tried give a good gift. All things I've heard is he's an amusing author though don't know much beyond what I've seen comments on, oh plus Good Omens but only saw season 1 which was based on some of his work, listened to the audiobook too that was a good one. But I enjoy the premise of angels and such.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

So he's been in a bit of trouble this week. I was having him do a couple chores each day before he can earn his CD player for the day. Yesterday, I decided he could earn the CD player by reading Men at Arms for 20 mins instead lol. He did it! His gripe, seems silly, but he said he hasnt read them because there arnt marked chapters, so he doesnt know when to stop! The solution was to use a timer to know when to stop ;)