Doesn’t it seem like Aminé and Young Thug should be friends? Well, they’re working on it, and have just dropped a really fun collaboration. On “Compensating,” they reminisce about old relationships and how their shortcomings messed them up; now they say they’re making up for their past ills, but we’d need a song from some recent lovers to confirm that claim, wouldn’t we. Listen here.
Your cut
July 15, 2020
Gimme a cut
You remember the Instacart strike in March. When the company’s gig shoppers found themselves suddenly on the front lines of a pandemic, they had to fight for basic protections like sick leave and PPE. Those demands were met lightly and begrudgingly, and since then, Instacart’s shoppers have continued to work harder than ever while exposing themselves to a deadly virus in a job that gives them no benefits and no equity. Thanks to their work, their bosses’ pockets are swelling.
Several writers have called this kind of work structure a modern-day plantation, maximizing human labor to benefit the few. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In an NYT he former U.S. secretary of labor only stopped in the ’80s when bad bosses like Carl Icahn started optimizing companies through cost-cutting. Implementing it now would actively lift people out of poverty instead of increasing the wealth gap: If Amazon shared profits with its employees at the same rate that Sears did in the ’50s, its workers— including warehouse workers— would hold an average of $386,904 each in stock. That also means Bezos wouldn’t be worth $165 billion. HM.
Cut them some slack
While we’re talking food delivery, here’s the word from servers on outdoor dining: it sucks. Beyond its obvious dangers, the work is uncomfortable and unsteady (masks are hot and it’s hard to get gloves on when your hands are sweaty— and, good luck if it rains). Meanwhile, customers aren’t always understanding of small, pandemic-induced inconveniences like items running out. But don’t worry, all of this will only last until the fall, at which point we’ll probably be back to delivery-only. Keep an eye out for the continuing trickle of closures.
Prime cuts $
In conclusion, you are at home and thinking about ethics. Here’s something you should know: Butcherbox, which has had a hefty waitlist for months, is now back in action delivering 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, heritage breed pork, and free-range organic chicken straight to your door. They offer curated and customizable boxes, shipped for free, and sourced from farmers who care about their animals and the environment. Try them out here.