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Everyone’s entitled to a good wage, decent working conditions, and the respect of their peers. It sounds so simple. So fair. So obvious. And yet, many workers still find themselves exploited even in developed countries. Overworked for mere cents, marginalized, their voices and needs unheard.

The r/WorkersStrikeBack subreddit is an online community that advocates and fights for workers' rights in a wide variety of ways. They’re dedicated to supporting strikes and unions, addressing various workplace issues, and giving advice to anyone who might be dealing with especially tough problems or anti-worker sentiment at their jobs.

Created in late October of 2021, the subreddit already has nearly 78k members and is still growing. Scroll down for some of r/WorkersStrikeBack top posts that highlight the dark side of capitalism, and to learn more about the community.

#1

Wow. Medical Debt Causes Divorce Of Married Couple Of 52 Years

Wow. Medical Debt Causes Divorce Of Married Couple Of 52 Years

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#3

This Should Not Be Allowed!

This Should Not Be Allowed!

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The online community presents itself as an unabashedly “leftist, anti-capitalist subreddit.” They stress that they are not a place for debates. To them, capitalism is exploitative and evil, and they’re not willing to talk about these basic assumptions.

It’s all very black-and-white. So if you’re going to be posting on the sub, keep in mind that the goal is to give workers more negotiating power at work, not to analyze the nuances of economics and politics. There are plenty of other places to do this. This isn’t one of them.

#5

Sad Reality

Sad Reality

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Mike Crow
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then people say that if wages go up, prices go up. Not true, and it has been proven that wages go up then people have money to buy more things and businesses make more profit.

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“Worker exploitation is not up for debate. It is evident. If you intend to debate, go elsewhere,” the mods explain. “Capitalism is an inherently exploitative economic system. This is not up for debate.”

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The community believes wealthy special interests groups have corrupted governments everywhere, meaning that they do not represent the will of the people. As a result, wages remain stagnant, affordable medical coverage remains difficult (mostly in the United States), and the climate crisis continues to get out of hand.

#8

Congrats!

Congrats!

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why business owners can't just do the work themselves just like how they started out.

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#9

Trolling Ancaps, Temporarily Inconvenienced Billionaires

Trolling Ancaps, Temporarily Inconvenienced Billionaires

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Richard Doran
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot count how many times I have ranted about that same argument. I mean seriously, they have stated "we have more money than we know what to do with", on Sky News and now they're crying poverty?? F**k off!

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In the subreddit’s view, mass striking is what leads to real change. However, it has to be done as efficiently, as widely as possible. They have a handy guide in the subreddit’s sidebar on the right with a whole host of resources for anyone who is thinking of organizing a strike at work.

#10

Hmmm I Wonder Why

Hmmm I Wonder Why

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Nubis Knight
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's another "Only in Murica"-thing, I suppose? Minimal wage started in January 2015 in Germany and got up from 8,50 €/h to 10,45 €/h since than. Still low, but improving.

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#11

Truth

Truth

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#12

You Don't Have To Pay Your Boss Miscalculations

You Don't Have To Pay Your Boss Miscalculations

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Pez42025
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, go to work sick, spread it around...2020 taught us alot, but apparently nothing at the same time.

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However, r/WorkersStrikeBack isn’t the only online community that is concerned with better working conditions and showing the dark, dreary underbelly of capitalist society.

Earlier, Bored Panda interviewed Angel, the founder and moderator of the ‘Humans of Capitalism’ page. They told us that the current capitalist system is flawed, absurd, and unjust. What’s more, this injustice permeates every layer of our lives, not just work, according to them.

#13

Just Like Thomas Edison, Elon Rides Of Tesla's Success

Just Like Thomas Edison, Elon Rides Of Tesla's Success

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DC
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Elon Musk has to shut up. I can't stand him anymore ... he sucks, he's selfish and by making people call him a Freak, it makes us regular Freaks, members of the working class, look bad.

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#14

Boycott Amy's

Boycott Amy's

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mulk
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretend to be ecological doesn't mean you are ethical

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#15

Basically, The Laws Exist To Protect The Capitalist Class

Basically, The Laws Exist To Protect The Capitalist Class

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Csaba Hegedűs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are a bank and go bankrupt, government will help you out with a few billion dollars taken from taxpayers' pockets.

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For Angel, the future looks bleak. They don’t have much optimism that capitalism as a whole can be replaced easily. In fact, they think that capitalism evolved into corporatism.

"We often see many small businesses collapsing because they are not able to fight with the current trend or to combat with the giant competitors. So they have two options, close the business or sell it," Angel mused.

#16

Can't Afford Job Loyalty In This Situation

Can't Afford Job Loyalty In This Situation

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"We have many companies that have been bought by enormous giants that I do not want to mention and they won't stop there, they are trying to get their hands on any business category. Is there a solution for it? I believe that there can be some solutions, but capitalists will work and find a way to bypass those solutions and continue with the destruction of the system while being totally ignorant about it," they said.

#19

Amazon Making Blatantly Fake Twitter Accounts Ahead Of The Union Vote To Discourage Workers From Unionizing

Amazon Making Blatantly Fake Twitter Accounts Ahead Of The Union Vote To Discourage Workers From Unionizing

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GoldShovel
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. Can that be a lawsuit, having your own face used on a Twitter account without your permission?

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#20

You Can Do It, Too! If They Don’t Want To Pay You Fair Wages, Force Them To Close!

You Can Do It, Too! If They Don’t Want To Pay You Fair Wages, Force Them To Close!

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Rosemary Booth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The owner of Jimmy Johns (Jimmy John Liautaud) is a disgusting big game trophy hunter. I personally would rather starve to death than support this piece of fecal waste. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/jimmy-john-liautaud-hunting-photos/

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#21

Love The Late Stage Capitalism Of Child Labor Needed To Pay Off That Good ‘Ol American Child Debt

Love The Late Stage Capitalism Of Child Labor Needed To Pay Off That Good ‘Ol American Child Debt

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Henry Crank
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's more heartwarming than this? Than it not being necessary. A Wisconsin school district just refused the Biden administrations extension of free lunches. Awful humans.

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In Angel’s view, any system and society, capitalist or not, has the potential for corruption. "If we go back in time where socialism or communism were at their prime, we can see that the top of the head of the system was corrupted and that resulted with the fall of the system," they pointed out that people ought to have a realistic view of history, not an overly-romanticized one.

#22

Born In The System. Trapped In The System

Born In The System. Trapped In The System

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#23

In 2020 We Were Called "Essential Workers" When They Needed Us To Work And Now We're Back To Being Called "Low Skilled Workers" If The Pandemic Has Shown Anything It's That So Called "Low Skilled Workers" Are Of Vital Importants To The Economy And Without These Workers The Economy Would Shut Down

In 2020 We Were Called "Essential Workers" When They Needed Us To Work And Now We're Back To Being Called "Low Skilled Workers" If The Pandemic Has Shown Anything It's That So Called "Low Skilled Workers" Are Of Vital Importants To The Economy And Without These Workers The Economy Would Shut Down

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The founder of ‘Humans of Capitalism’ told Bored Panda how they envision the future. They believe that we’re in for an automated ‘utopia’ where machines will produce, deliver, and take care of everything. From food and clothing to health. However, that wouldn’t necessarily make things perfect, as someone would still control the system of distribution.

#25

It’s Never In More Pay

It’s Never In More Pay

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John C
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've learned this lesson many times, and yet I feel like trash when I give less than 100%. It probably has to do with being in healthcare and how my efforts (or lack thereof) directly impacts patients.

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#26

This Is What Happens When Companies Run The Country

This Is What Happens When Companies Run The Country

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"The idea of getting free food, water, health, clothing, is nice and, in reality, if we take a closer look at the current system we can see that more people are let off and replaced by machines. For example, we can see that McDonald's workers are fired and they have been replaced with machines that work on touch or by sound and they take orders, forward orders to the employees, etc."

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#28

"I Started From The Bottom..."

"I Started From The Bottom..."

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TmKhr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, they just worked really hard, only bought 1 cup of Starbucks a day, woke up early etc. /sarcasm

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#29

Marshalls: Free Shipping On Orders Over $89, Workers Gfy

Marshalls: Free Shipping On Orders Over $89, Workers Gfy

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Jaekry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Denying ppl water...(or charging them) ... feels like a crime to me.

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#30

Building Class Conscience Through Memes

Building Class Conscience Through Memes

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rspanther
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oil company execs are going to be buying the Russian oligarchs seized yachts.

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They can see a dark future where, as technology progresses, more and more workers will lose their jobs. 

"I believe that 50 years from now machines will provide food, clothing, healthcare services, and much more, by themselves, with little to no employees monitoring them. But there is an issue with that. You will leave millions of people jobless and cause huge riots as the famous quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau goes: 'When the people shall have no more to eat, they will eat the rich.'"

#32

“Wildest Part Of Labor History Class”

“Wildest Part Of Labor History Class”

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Luther von Wolfen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's the guy who called me an "armchair socialist"? Shouldn't he be here defending the cops and Pinkerton agents who shot coal miners and factory workers on strike?

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#33

America Needs A Socialist Revolution

America Needs A Socialist Revolution

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Lisa Peters
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God forbid you say the “S” word. Most Mercian’s think it’s Communism. They have no idea what socialism really is.

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#34

The Owner Class Does None Of The Work And Owns All Of The Wealth, The Working Class Does All Of The Actual Work And Gets Almost None Of The Wealth

The Owner Class Does None Of The Work And Owns All Of The Wealth, The Working Class Does All Of The Actual Work And Gets Almost None Of The Wealth

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Aliquid
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm all for socialism... as you can see from previous posts. But this specific argument is flawed. The problem is, a huge amount of money needs to go into finding and mining the gold, and if it turns out that the gold mine is a failure... the miners still got paid for their work, but the mine owner just wasted a whole bunch of money. The individual miners didn't take any risk. -- So the question is, if you don't like this model, then who should take on the risk? Co-ops are a possible solution, where the miners pool their resources together and invest in the mine, and if it fails, they all share the loss. Another option is socialism, where the government owns the mine and takes on the risk, so ultimately the tax-payer will take the hit if it is a failure. -- There are options, but someone will have to suffer if the mine fails.

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#36

Let’s Keep It Up Till All Jobs Are Unionized

Let’s Keep It Up Till All Jobs Are Unionized

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Nordic And Sneezing
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still can't get over the fact that the US are only NOW getting unions FOR the workers

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#37

What You Want vs. What You Get, Living Under Capitalism

What You Want vs. What You Get, Living Under Capitalism

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#38

Unionized Women Earn 23% More Hourly Then Those Without A Union

Unionized Women Earn 23% More Hourly Then Those Without A Union

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Novel Idesa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can confirm. I had a non-union job before the pandemic, got laid off, found a new job with a union, now make 29% more, have health benefits, and get PTO.

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#40

Yikes

Yikes

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