On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 2:45 PM, Nagarjuna G nagarjun@gnowledge.org wrote:
If we analyze carefully how surplus gets generated, and look at the cause of it, we do realize that it comes from the worker's skills (This is of course from Marx). Except for labor (unskilled work) the rest of the skills are controlled by the owners of the workers, by holding the tools we use in their custody, and by owning the workers (all the non-disclosure agreements workers sign when they join as employees). workers do not have the freedom to transmit the skills to others without permission from the owners.
yes. exactly. I was amazed seeing the agreement that my first employer (who was yet to give me a salary) offered. Those who gave knowledge my teachers, my friends, my parents, my elders and the public involved me didn't even asked for anything on what I might do with the knowledge that I gained from them.
But a company which recruits not because of the salary that they are going give but for the skills (that came to me by the efforts of whole of the society) I possess, even before giving a months' salary started claiming rights on the knowledge.. Ridiculous, I felt.
not every one signs the agreement because they agree to it.. but their family , need to live.. etc., force them to agree to it.. this is what employers' exploit.. that put axe on the whole of society.. It is difficult to unite them for same/ similar reasons.. this exactly prompted me to start a discussion on, 'Employee agreement in a FOSS' company some time back in this list as well as ILUGC..
http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/pipermail/ilugc/2008-December/044896.html
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