[silverquiet]

Thank you for the additional color. I will say that aside from the physical stuff, this doesn't sound all that different from the treatment that workers for Amazon or a call center would be subject to. I had my own wage-slave days and navigating this type of employment was an incredibly demoralizing way to start a working life. I certainly don't take for granted the cushy role that I have at a software company now, in spite of the fact that I work for a small company at a salary many here would find insulting.

[hollywood_court]

I too am a low paid developer. I spent the first 20 years of my life doing skilled trade work and following a blue collar lifestyle. I'm now in my first developer role where my title is "Lead Developer." However, I'm the only developer here and I'm paid poorly.

But it is far better than working in a manufacturing facility or anything else I ever did while working for someone else.

I don't want to be the type of person who says "well, I paid my dues, you should too." I want things to be better for everyone. Now one should have to go through the things I went through as a young man. No one should have to be forced to work 6 days per week 12 hours per day simply to be able to barely make ends meet.

[silverquiet]

Yes, for a lot of people, these blue-collar jobs will be terminal positions, and they are necessary; they should be afforded dignity.