The hottest Labor Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Time Off in Old Times

Maximum Progress • 314 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
💾 History Medieval Labor Quality of Life Industrial Revolution Leisure
  1. Medieval peasants had more time off due to frequent breaks, long holidays, and seasonal slow downs in paid farm labor.
  2. Comparing work hours between medieval and modern times may not be accurate as the nature of work and leisure is different.
  3. Historia Civilis' analysis overlooks the harsh realities of medieval life, including torture by landlords and mandatory household chores.

Alexandra Olympia Peristeraki: Enaboukaligala

Do Not Research • 139 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Memory Labor History Social Issues Documentary
  1. The story features a 93-year-old retired factory worker from Greece reminiscing about his time in a highly toxic environment.
  2. Google Street View is used as a time capsule to show the remains of the worker's narration captured from 2009 to 2019.
  3. The narrative combines found footage from different industrial settings to showcase the struggles of the working class past and present.

The week in US unions, February 19th-26th, 2023

Who Gets the Bird? • 255 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor
  1. The ILR Labor Action Tracker's 2022 report is a must-read for anyone interested in the US union movement.
  2. Various strikes and negotiations are happening across different sectors and locations in the US.
  3. There are significant developments in internal union politics with upcoming elections, retirements, and new organizing efforts.

There is no such thing as community, and we're all lonely

The 21st Century Proletarian • 139 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Society Labor Social Issues Internet Social relationships
  1. Loneliness in society can be linked to the impact of labor under capitalism.
  2. Proposed solutions to the 'loneliness crisis' often focus on individual actions rather than systemic changes.
  3. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance and more leisure time are crucial in addressing social isolation and loneliness.

Three weeks in US unions, January 29th-February 19th, 2023

Who Gets the Bird? • 235 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Legislation Elections Organizing
  1. Several long strikes in the US labor movement have ended or are nearing resolution.
  2. Various new strikes and labor actions are happening across different sectors, including transit, healthcare, and education.
  3. Significant developments are occurring in union organizing efforts, elections, and collective bargaining rights, showcasing a dynamic period in the US labor landscape.
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Lessons learned from Ford's assembly line

Jon’s Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💼 Business Innovation Manufacturing Economics Labor History
  1. Ford's assembly line made car production much faster, cutting down assembly time from 12 hours to just 90 minutes. This allowed Ford to produce cars more efficiently.
  2. By dropping the price of the Model T from $850 to under $300, Ford made cars affordable for many more people. This helped him sell over 15 million Model Ts by 1927.
  3. Henry Ford also raised workers' wages to $5 a day, which was double the average wage. This not only reduced turnover but also allowed workers to buy the cars they made.

Abe Left Japan’s Economy Worse Than He Found It

Japan Economy Watch • 519 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
💼 Business Economy Politics Finance Government Labor
  1. Shinzo Abe failed to improve Japan's economy during his tenure as Prime Minister, falling short of his promises and leaving living standards on a decline
  2. Abe's economic policies led to suppressed GDP growth, low wages, and a shift in national income from people to corporations
  3. Despite claimed achievements like 'womenomics' and ending deflation, Abe's tenure was marked by hollow measures and missed opportunities for real structural economic reforms

Labour in the middle layer

imperfect offerings • 139 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Labor Automation Tech industry
  1. Human work plays a crucial role in maintaining the illusion of intelligence in AI models by performing tasks like reviewing outputs and assigning ratings.
  2. The human labor in the middle layer of AI development is extensive, complex, and ongoing, despite being often overlooked by the industry.
  3. Students and graduates are increasingly becoming involved in platform data work, which can impact their job satisfaction and well-being, raising questions about the future of labor in the AI industry.

Kyiv Metro vs the World: An Exploration

S(ubstack)-Bahn • 341 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🌐 International Transportation Labor Infrastructure War Innovation
  1. Kyiv Metro managed to run high frequency trains during wartime, which was a challenge for other systems.
  2. The success of Kyiv Metro can be attributed to infrastructural choices, like station typology, and organizational practices, like a Soviet-era philosophy of train throughput.
  3. Kyiv Metro's ability to operate effectively and maintain high frequencies is also due to having a surplus of labor, contributing to its resilience.

The Death of The Bethlehem Mill

ESG Hound • 461 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Industrialization Environmental Labor Economic Development Globalization
  1. The Bethlehem Mill was a once-thriving industrial complex that declined due to economic changes and globalization.
  2. The site faced environmental issues and cleanup challenges due to decades of industrial activity.
  3. Capitalism's impact on industrial sites like the Bethlehem Mill underscores the importance of responsible stewardship and waste management.

Genre Grapevine on Why They Want Us to Call it AI

Genre Grapevine • 98 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🚌 Education Language Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Ethics Labor
  1. Words are powerful and shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
  2. The language used to describe machine learning tools can be deceptive, such as calling them 'artificial intelligence' when there's no actual intelligence behind them.
  3. Using accurate language is important in conversations about machine learning to avoid misconceptions and ensure transparency.

Solidarity

Dada Drummer Almanach • 182 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Legislation Music Activism Solidarity
  1. Independent musicians legally cannot strike or form a union due to antitrust laws.
  2. There are ongoing efforts, like the Protect Working Musicians Act, to exempt musicians from antitrust laws and negotiate better with streaming platforms.
  3. Even though musicians can't strike like Hollywood workers, they can still build solidarity and advocate for better conditions.

US Federal Reserve says its goal is 'to get wages down'

Geopolitical Economy Report • 279 implied HN points • 24 May 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Inflation Labor Government Policy Wages Monopolies
  1. The US Federal Reserve chairman aims to bring down wages as a solution to high inflation, believing that workers have too much power in the labor market.
  2. Inflation is outpacing US wages, with the federal minimum wage remaining at $7.25 since 2009, showing that real wages have not kept up with rising prices.
  3. Economist Michael Hudson argues that inflation is primarily driven by corporate monopolies increasing prices, not by rising wages as claimed by the Federal Reserve.

Generative AI and the Movie Industry: Opportunities and Challenges

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Film Entertainment Creativity Labor
  1. Generative AI is reshaping the movie industry with its ability to enhance various production aspects like scriptwriting, casting, editing, and marketing.
  2. OpenAI's Sora technology is a groundbreaking example of generative AI creating photorealistic and interactive movies based on natural language inputs.
  3. The Hollywood strike against AI in the movie industry highlights concerns about how artificial intelligence could impact the rights, credits, and compensation of writers and actors.

Modern Slavery

The Weekly Gazette • 42 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Civil Rights Slavery Labor Justice
  1. The Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery but had a loophole that allowed forced labor for convicted criminals. This led to a system called convict leasing, which exploited many African Americans long after they were supposedly freed.
  2. Many Southern states created harsh laws, known as Black Codes, to arrest black people for minor offenses. Once convicted, they were treated worse than before, enduring brutal working conditions and mistreatment.
  3. Slavery-like practices still exist today, not just in the U.S. but globally. Even though laws against practices like debt bondage exist, they often go unenforced, trapping many in exploitative situations.

Life Is All About Work, Didn’t You Know?

antoniomelonio • 86 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Work Freedom Society Labor Capitalism
  1. Life involves a cycle of working to survive - from following specific rules in society to earning a living through predetermined means.
  2. Many find dissatisfaction in modern work due to its lack of purpose, fake elements, and inequality. Imagining a fulfilling work experience that is meaningful and valued.
  3. Existence is tied to being productive in a system driven by abstract concepts of growth, leading to disillusionment and a call for individual struggle for freedom and authentic living.

Planned Obsolescence

Dada Drummer Almanach • 255 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Media Labor Technology Music Space
  1. Planned obsolescence in technology can lead to unintended consequences like a decline in quality and essential maintenance being neglected.
  2. Digital advancements like AI in music and movies can eliminate important human interactions and connections.
  3. Labor is crucial for maintaining shared spaces like movie theaters and music venues, and eliminating human jobs can ultimately eliminate the social experience these spaces provide.

Illustrating AI

On Looking • 79 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration AI Creativity Representation Labor Tech industry
  1. Illustrators have the power to shape public opinion on AI by leveraging their expertise in visual storytelling.
  2. There are ongoing efforts, like lawsuits and digital tools, to protect artists' work in the face of AI-generated art and copyright infringement.
  3. The representation of AI in illustrations can be reimagined to reflect the real-world impact of AI technologies, moving away from the typical futuristic and idealistic portrayals.

Anyone That Uses The Term "Illegal Immigrant" Is A Hardcore Racist & Should Be Rejected From Polite Society.

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 18 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Racism Economy Labor Politics
  1. Wealthy people often blame immigrants for economic problems instead of looking at their own role in creating issues like low wages.
  2. The economy relies on workers to drive demand, not just on the wealthy who claim to create jobs.
  3. Using the term 'illegal immigrant' is considered offensive and highlights issues of racism in society.

Disability, UBI, and the explanatory power of labour-inclusive capitalism

Wheel’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Capitalism Disability Ideology
  1. Labour-inclusive capitalism promotes the idea of collaboration between capital and labor for optimal capitalism.
  2. Some perspectives view UBI as exclusionary and ableist due to the focus on labor inclusion and agency.
  3. Labor-inclusive capitalism dominates the ideology of influential members of the Labour party.

Mommy, daddy, is ChatGPT going to automate your jobs? | Roundup #18

Workonomics • 19 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
💼 Business Labor Economics Policy Gig Economy Automation
  1. A study found that higher-wage jobs have a higher exposure to automation than lower-wage jobs.
  2. A tight labor market has helped reduce inequality by increasing wages for low-wage workers more than high-wage workers.
  3. Different states have proposed various gig economy regulations, such as requiring gig platforms to show drivers how much they were paid and provide benefits like minimum wage and sick time.

The passion economy is a ploy

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 139 implied HN points • 03 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Platforms Labor Economy Tech AI
  1. The gig economy and the 'passion' economy are seen as one phenomenon that depletes the labor ecosystem, extracting value from workers.
  2. Examples of unalienated labor can be found among artisans and in spaces like Black hair salons, where people genuinely love their work.
  3. Empowering workers in the digital age involves creating platforms that they have control over, ensuring they benefit from the value they produce.

The law is a stick-up !

Euro Desk Paris • 39 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Protests Labor Government Economy Policy
  1. Over 2 million people participated in a national mobilization in France, with widespread demonstrations across the country.
  2. The proposed pension reform in France is just the tip of the iceberg, as it involves converting retirement into a market index.
  3. Historical events like the 1963 miner's strike in France provide parallels and lessons for the current social movements and government responses.

Immigration Part 2: The Practical Case for More Immigration

I Might Be Wrong • 3 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Economy Labor Policy Social Issues
  1. Immigration can boost economic growth by connecting workers with employers, creating wealth for individuals and society.
  2. High-skilled immigrants contribute significantly to the economy, starting businesses and driving innovation.
  3. Legal immigration can help manage crime rates and enrich American culture, benefiting society as a whole.

The dead are at our backs

Metal Machine Music by Ben Tarnoff • 39 implied HN points • 07 Nov 19
🕹 Technology History Socialism Labor Innovation
  1. Technology Left needs to learn from the past: It's important to look back at the history of movements democratizing technology to find inspiration, learn lessons, and feel connected to a community.
  2. Past experiments in democratizing technology: The GLC in 1980s London created Technology Networks to democratize design and development, emphasizing socially useful production. This innovation from below aimed to involve communities in technology creation.
  3. Creating spaces for democratic technological practice today: The idea of Technology Networks could inform creating spaces where participants engage in self-organization, politicization, and work towards meaningful social change.

This new paper explains how middle class jobs may change for the better thanks to AI

ailogblog • 1 HN point • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Jobs Middle class Labor Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI can help improve middle class jobs by empowering knowledge workers and utilizing expertise to support decision-making tasks.
  2. The value of expertise will change with AI, potentially allowing a larger group of workers to perform higher-stakes tasks currently done by elite experts.
  3. AI offers an opportunity to restore the middle-skill, middle-class heart of the labor market, which has been affected by automation and globalization.

Uber is Finally … Profitable: What Drove This?

Gad’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 11 Mar 24
💼 Business Economics Marketplace Regulation Labor Profitability
  1. Despite previous doubts, Uber has achieved profitability by moderating spending and efficiently managing its operations.
  2. Uber's profitability hinges on increasing their take-rate from customers, while the drivers are facing challenges with payment structures such as algorithm-based systems.
  3. Even though Uber is profitable, there are concerns about the sustainability of these profits due to potential regulatory changes impacting their business model and driver treatment.

Tech's Blind Spots: The Startups Building for Underserved Markets

Digital Native • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Children Labor Startups
  1. Silicon Valley tends to build products for itself, but there are large opportunities in underserved markets like Baby Boomers and Gen Alphas.
  2. Startups are starting to focus on overlooked groups like industrial workers and internet labor, offering solutions tailored to their needs.
  3. There is potential in catering to the growing class of internet-native small businesses, from creators to e-commerce entrepreneurs.

New Report: Mixed Sentiments in Labor Productivity with Bullish Indicators Outweighing the Bearish Ones

The Tweetsift Report • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
💼 Business Productivity Labor Economic Indicators Market Trends Financial Analysis
  1. Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased by 1.7% in Q4 2022, despite declining annually by 1.7%.
  2. Nonfinancial corporate sector productivity rose by 0.6% in Q3 2022, contrary to previous reports of a 1.6% decline.
  3. Overall, the report indicates more bullish sentiments in labor productivity, with positive indicators surpassing negative ones.

Biden: We Now Have ‘the Strongest Economy in the Whole Damn World!’

The Washington Current • 0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Labor Jobs
  1. President Biden celebrates having the strongest economy in the world, crediting organized labor.
  2. Biden highlights the decrease in inflation, growth in jobs, and creation of manufacturing jobs in the US.
  3. Larry Kudlow, a former economic adviser to Trump, acknowledges the positive economic indicators and apologizes for his previous predictions.