Greed ?

[Protheroe]

But automation is also likely to reduce the number of available 'middle'/'white collar' salary jobs.

Every advance in technology does that. What happens? Jobs become different. The quality of those jobs doesn't necessarily decline, in many instances it increases.

The same daft cliams have been made since the Luddites.

[keef]

But automation is also likely to reduce the number of available 'middle'/'white collar' salary jobs.

Every advance in technology does that. What happens? Jobs become different. The quality of those jobs doesn't necessarily decline, in many instances it increases.

The same daft cliams have been made since the Luddites.

agree entirely why was this hominid species gone on on to be  the most dominent  animal  in the world. because we adapted to our changing environment quicker than other homineid species and the same is today if you do not adapt you will fail in this modern world like our ancestors

[Brentbaggie]

But automation is also likely to reduce the number of available 'middle'/'white collar' salary jobs.

Every advance in technology does that. What happens? Jobs become different. The quality of those jobs doesn't necessarily decline, in many instances it increases.

The same daft cliams have been made since the Luddites.

You mean like the jobs at Amazon? And so long as Unions aren’t involved?

[Protheroe]

You mean like the jobs at Amazon? And so long as Unions aren’t involved?

No, I didn't mean that.

But whilst we're on the subject you're far less likely to die slowly from mesothelioma from the conditions at Amazon's shed than from the conditions at the power station that preceded it on that site. Far far less likely to suffer the health effects of working down the pits that served the power station too.

The conditions at Amazon may not be too pleasant but they're a world away from the conditions in mining and heavy industry on which this region was founded.

So there's another benefit of progress, eh?

[Brentbaggie]

Ah, the bad old days. They were indeed very bad. Amelioration of danger, ill-health and working conditions are to be welcomed and you are right, in all sorts of ways the world of work is a much better place.

That does not however excuse practices and wages that condemn people to jobs worth little financially and do even less to engender a sense of value, either to oneself or society. Never mind anti-vaccers finding it impossible to believe in the efficacy of a drug, how the fuck the gig economy is anything but an intolerable disgrace, as the High Court made clear to Uber last week, I'll never know.

[Protheroe]

That does not however excuse practices and wages that condemn people to jobs worth little financially and do even less to engender a sense of value, either to oneself or society. 

Compared with an early death those are nice problems to have.

£11 per hour for unskilled work is OK, isn't it?

[Brentbaggie]

That's if you get it - and that's if you work enough hours to make it worth while. I presume you didn't watch the piece on the news about Amazon and the workers who were promised so many hours only they didn't get them. Turned up for work only to be sent home, etc. etc.

[Protheroe]

That's if you get it - and that's if you work enough hours to make it worth while.  I presume you didn't watch the piece on the news about Amazon and the workers who were promised so many hours only they didn't get them.  Turned up for work only to be sent home, etc. etc.

That's unfortunate. During normal times there are plenty of other employers about.