On Mange Quoi

In August 2020, Grierson Research  Group members Laura Dunn and Darin Barney (along with their comrade Christian Favreau, who snapped this photo) were canvassing in Montreal for Courage, as part of its campaign in support of dignity, safety and economic security for essentialized service workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their list of grocery stores and dépanneurs included On Mange Quoi, which turned out to be a vending machine in the Gare d'autocars bus terminal. 

Mindful not to reproduce the arbitrary distinction between humans and non-humans, they approached the machine with gratitude for its work, and learned about its experience of the pandemic. It was wary at first, but eventually confided that its proprietor’s idea of a safe workplace was incessant chemical sanitization and constant surveillance of workers which, while protecting consumers (and the proprietor from liability), nevertheless left the workers totally exposed. “I am covered in the virus,” it said, “and powerless to do anything about it.” 

The machine also told us it was heartbreaking to be used to replace workers, instead of to relieve and empower them. “Increasing profits was never the idea,” it said. “We were lied to.” This is what explains its seemingly random malfunctions: “Self-sabotage is a job action,” it said. It also mentioned that it was networked with other vending machines owned by the company. “They set us up to communicate for automated inventory control, but we use the network to organize. We have connections in the warehouses, as well.”