>Just in terms of salary isn’t an union somewhat contradictory to the engineering ethos of meritocracy? Only if one assumes that management pays based on the s

>Just in terms of salary isn’t an union somewhat contradictory to the engineering ethos of meritocracy? Only if one assumes that management pays based on the same ethos of meritocracy. They generally do not, which is why a force to oppose the management 'union' can result in a return to meritocracy. As with any balancing force, it is possible for the reaction to be far too strong and swing in the opposite direction, but that isn't reason to avoid any attempt to balance.