Comment by tomlockwood
2 years ago
The good news is you can do both of those things and still be a member of a union! And additionally, there's lots of evidence to suggest that union members get paid more https://www.australianunions.org.au/factsheet/union-members-...
Union penetration is decidedly low in tech, and tech companies coincidentally have some of the highest cash reserves of any industry. People in tech often think, why should I join my union, I already get paid a lot! Bosses love that attitude.
"Union penetration is decidedly low in tech, and tech companies coincidentally have some of the highest cash reserves of any industry. People in tech often think, why should I join my union, I already get paid a lot! Bosses love that attitude."
If unions are anything like they are in the US, you lose your individual bargaining power in favor of the collective. IE: if you want a raise as a software developer, everyone at your level will also need to get a raise.
In addition to this, you end up paying the unions a tax in the form of dues, like a small government and you are forced to strike (like the UAW), even when you are satisfied with your current position/salary.
I can negotiate my own salary with any employer and I am normally well compensated. A union will not help me and will only hinder my future success.
Unions are normally for people that have lower-skilled jobs that can easily be replaced by the thousands of other people that can do the same thing (hence, having no individual negotiating power and needing someone to protect them).
This generally doesn't apply to people in the tech industry.
If your union agreement contains insufficient levels for you to progress, that's a bad agreement. Collective bargaining leads to better wages on average.
If I am the only one at my company who is in a union, how does the union help me negotiate more salary? Or does it rely on enough people at my company joining?
If unions have the funding to advocate for higher wages, even at other companies, wages in the industry will rise to remain competitive.
Additionally unions can offer you support in workplace disputes, and so function as a kind of legal employment insurance, even when density in your workplace is low.
Wages in the US tech industry are some of the most competitive in the world.
"Additionally unions can offer you support in workplace disputes,"
It also makes it really difficult to fire bad/incompetent workers.
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