Comment by Epa095
9 days ago
> If the unions goal is to raid donations and get an increasing share, that could potentially go bad.
Why would you assume that is the unions goal? That the employees of Wikipedia will suddenly have as their purpose to raid donations from the foundation, instead of promoting the values they probably started there for?
Unions gives the employees a voice representing them, and it gives the organisation someone to talk to and negotiate with. This can be highly advantageous to the organisation as well, since when you have someone to negotiate with, and make deals with, it opens up more possibilities. In places with strong functioning unions (e.g. Scandinavia) they can often function as a moderating force, keeping salaries low when times are bad, and an pragmatic partner when things like working times needs to change.
This is a bit of a naive response.
Unfortunately, with the NLRA as it currently exists, it is more or less impossible to form cross-sector unions like they have in Scandinavia. Which is why unions and industry are so hostile in the US in the first place.
If you're paying union dues, I would expect you want your union to fight to keep your job and make you more money above promoting the employer's values
> In places with strong functioning unions (e.g. Scandinavia) they can often function as a moderating force, keeping salaries low when times are bad
But this isn't a Scandinavian union now, is it? It is an American union with all the problems which comes with that.
Is there anything particular about Americans which makes them incapable of forming a rational, constructive union?