Microsoft protest organizer returns to code
The revolution was not computerized
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The engineering contractor protesting against Microsoft's 10 per cent pay cut has accepted terms to return to work.
Phil Palios has blogged he's accepted the amended contract with his employer Volt following meetings with the company. In a lengthy post, Palios said that he'd realized he can continue working at Microsoft as a result of the cut, instead of simply getting laid off, and that Microsoft's ability to pay has been hit by the recession.
"I really like my job and I felt that even at 10 per cent less pay, it was worth being able to continue working on the projects I am a part of. I also think that it's unfair to think one can be immune from a shattered economy," Palios wrote.
Twenty-three-year old Palios said he didn't want to be come a labor organizer and give up working in software. He'd been overwhelmed with questions from supporters and the media over what moves he'd be making next in the protest.
The software engineer shot to fame this week when he called on 200 fellow contractors to protest against the pay cuts. Just 30 showed up, though. Palios said his initially strong emotions began to fade and he began to see the issue "in a more objective light" after this.
It's likely Microsoft will have taken a dim view of his use of the company's email system to drum up support for the protest in the first place. Palios had contacted the 200 through Microsoft's Global Address list. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Spirit of 1909
The poor huddled masses of the proletariat are the wage slaves though, not the freelance contractors. As a contractor myself, I don't think forming a union against your clients is a good career move. It's just not that kind of worker-employer relationship. If you don't like the rates, go elsewhere. Despite the crisis, there are plenty of ways to make a living other than by doing cushy consulting gigs at companies far too large to know the real value of money. Sheesh, kids these days.
Spirit of 1909
"being a shit-stirring let's-form-a-union type).... ......a 10% pay cut on contract rates in the current climate isn't really taking the piss, it's realistic..."
"I've never understood what makes people feel that they should "protest" what they don't like"
Statements that could only be made by people who clearly know fuck all about the history of organised labour.
Ironic that Sunday was international women's day - look up the origins of that oh children of the benign capitalist age and tell me that protesting is pointless and that all union organisers are just shit stirrers.
or maybe you should come out of you comfy complacent comas and consider that profitable companies with millions in accumulated profits who pay their CEO more than most countries president/premier/prime ministers have no reason to slash wages except a desire to keep their profit margins high and their shareholders in caviar.
The workers who CREATE all that profit deserve more.
The whole reason microsoft has adopted the contract worker model is to justify paying peanuts to hundreds of workers forever stuck as "temps" despite being responsible for microsofts
profits.
Mines the one with "Ragged Trouser Philanthropists" in the pocket
Young and daft!
Ah I remember it well, invincible and nothing could stop you! A short, sharp slap upside your head with the reality stick, usually does the trick though! "You've only just started and if you like it here, sit down and shut-up, else you'll find yourself down at Burger World swapping shifts with Beavis and Butthead until you retire!"
The permie young ones and those less than 18 months service get chopped first, because the redundancy payments are going to be a lot less than the old timer who's done 15 years and would cost the entire month's pay run to get rid of!
Shelf the people will take voluntary and a cheaper payoff ( read: minimum that company policy will allow! ).
Then we offer the usual "10%-or-get-out" deal to the contractors.
Then when it gets too bad and ready to turn out the lights, divvy up what's left and pay everyone else off, if there is anything left of course!
"No one gets out of here alive!"
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