Tech workers have no right to be angry. Unionize or shut up. (Excluding all the supportive tech workers, including those in the comments.) Source: am a tech worker

I'm a tech executive... good for UPS workers. That's what unions are for, to balance out investors' demands and get people paid fairly.

As a tech worker for over 25 years, I say good for them.

Hell, if my back, knees and neck weren't already fucked, I'd be damned tempted to start driving for UPS.

I'm already kind of nearing a point where a move away from tech is appealing, but even if I accept the idea of some reduction in pay, I'm at a loss for what I can do that wouldn't see me losing half my income which would just be more than I'd like to bear.

I know someone in his 20s who makes $41 and some change per hour plus $150 per diem...

7 days on and 7 days off...

"Unskilled" coal mine work.

It's pretty damn insulting to be honest as someone who's been in the technology industry for over 25 years when I have to deal with companies and recruiters thinking that my labor is somehow worth less than that.

Hell, I made more than that 18 years ago (and I still do as an hourly without the per diem) but now I get dipshit recruiters emailing and calling me constantly thinking I should be willing to work for $25 an hour or even sometimes less.

It's like I'm living in fucking crazy world.

Fucking unionize then.

Did anyone read this article? The summary and title make it sound like a bad YouTube video in article form… “Tech workers react…”

Is there anything actually interesting inside?

Yea. Theres assholes with shitty opinions in all fields of life.

Who are these tech workers getting mad?

As a tech worker, fuck yeah! You earned it. Delivery people deal with so much shit. And I'm rooting for your success.

This reminds me of what happened at my last job towards the end of the lockdown. Previously, you started at a certain wage and increased a specific amount every 500ish hours, up to a limit. The last "raise" was only like 4 cents, but you still had to work the extra 500ish hours to get it.

Well, the company decided that they weren't paying enough to be competitive, so they suddenly raised everyone to the top rate. This put people who just started their very first job at the same pay rate as the people who had been there for multiple years. Their "solution" was to give the long term employees a one off, taxed, check for $200. To say that people were angry would be an understatement.

Personally, I think they should have just increased everyone across the board, especially after previously bragging about making record profits multiple years in a row.

IMO, when someone else makes more, it gives me room to also argue for more. Otherwise, why not go to another company that will pay it? Getting angry at the guy with the raise won't give you one. Inflation will still happen.

I've been in tech for 3 decades now...and I have nothing but applause for UPS drivers landing this package.

Why would tech workers have a problem with this? From my perspective, that's just one more industry I can consider hopping to if my employer doesn't start getting their shit together when it comes to compensation packages. The more choices available to tech workers, then less beholden they are to their own employers, so this is a win for tech workers also.

UPS drivers getting this deal is better for everyone, in every industry.

As a tech worker my only anger is that they're not getting paid more.

As a Tech worker I think my job is more sophisticated, but much easier and less stressful than of an UPS driver, and I'm happy they can get a decent wage.

how is possible that a driver makes much more than average Engineer in R&D?

They don't...and if you aren't in that range with 2-5 years of experience, you should be exploring opportunities.

The other thing, it looks like their TOC is 170k, not their base pay. So that includes their health, time off, retirement, etc...

Any halfway competent engineer should be making that TOC.

Finally...good for them. If you're bitching about them making too much, I'm pretty sure they're hiring.

I think I share the sentiment with a majority of the responses from my fellow tech workers: fuck yeah, they deserve it. Those people are out in the elements (mind you during record breaking heat waves).

They deserve every dollar of that 170k and more as I sit in an air conditioned room pushing pixels

No anger at the UPS drivers, just my employer. But I can’t exactly stop working without risking my life collapsing around me so 🙃

Why does this article exist? Who cares what tech workers think about someone else's pay rate?

Yeah but have you sat in a UPS truck even it's parked? It just beeps non stop.

Points from the article:

could get $170,000 in pay and benefits in five years' time in a new contract.

~~"This is disappointing, how is possible that a driver makes much more than average Engineer in R&D?"~~ "This is disappointing, how is possible that an average Engineer in R&D makes much less than a driver?"

It is important to note that the $170,000 figure represents the entire value of the UPS package, including benefits and does not represent the base salary.

Despite some tech workers' resentment, many workers pointed out UPS drivers work under difficult conditions.

"I'd love for you to meet my dad who has delivered for UPS for over 35 years, hauls 100s of packages in the 105+ degree Texas heat, is literally Santa Claus in Dec, and does it for 9+ hours a day at 67 yo,"

The way this reads to me: “Some tech workers [who have never had a hard, physical job but also want their packages delivered in one day] questioned…”

Hopefully, the mixture is 1% anger to 99% admiration. And that they are inspired to demand more for their labor as well.