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People could organize a European style union for software engineers right now in USA if they wanted, but they aren't doing it. Instead they are still pushing fo

People could organize a European style union for software engineers right now in USA if they wanted, but they aren't doing it. Instead they are still pushing for US style unions like they did at Kickstarter. The only reason I can think of why they are doing this is that they want the extra power that comes with US style unions instead of the more worker friendly EU style unions.

faitswulff 6y ago
What is the primary difference between EU and US style unions?
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Board seats?
  - username90 6y ago
    That is only in Germany and not typical for EU.
    - skitout 6y ago
      And Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden (but with less seats than Germany) https://www.worker-participation.eu/National-Industrial-Relations/Across-Europe/Board-level-Representation2 https://www.worker-participation.eu/National-Industrial-Rela...
- username90 6y ago
  US unions are usually per company and forces everyone working in a specific area in that company to join or quit, meaning that anyone performing a specific job function needs to join said union. This leads to the "You can't plug a computer into a socket if you aren't in the electrician union" problem, the reason they say that is they think the company could oust the union by hiring people to do that work without properly labeling them. EU unions are bigger and more general but aren't allowed to force workers to join, ie EU is a "right to work" area. This avoids most of the problems with US style unions and also gives workers more political power since EU style unions are bigger and can therefore more easily influence national politics.
  - skitout 6y ago
    In my understanding unions that can "forces everyone working in a specific area in that company to join or quit" are exceptions not the rules in 2020 USA (and clearly not what the article was talking about). Perhaps am I ill informed (never been in USA, and my friend living there are not in unions), could you give us some sources saying that what you say is the main form of union in USA today ?
    - username90 6y ago
      Kickstarter is such a union. Many of the union members didn't want it. I'd bet even most of the software engineers didn't want it, but were forced to since they were bundled up with a lot of unrelated professions. > In the end, employees voted 46-to-37 in favor of unionizing > As of February 2020, the union was made up of 85 engineers, directors, analysts, designers, coordinators, and customer support specialists https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21257585/kickstarter-layoffs-employees-union-negotiations-severance https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21257585/kickstarter-layo...
      - skitout 6y ago
        The union "represented about 60 percent of the company’s 140 employees prior to the layoffs". From the article you mentioned. If 40% of the workers are not part of the union, seems that you are free to be part or not of the union. And that the union makes sense to the worker, as more than half of the workforce choose to join.
        username90 6y ago
        The union doesn't include every employee group at kickstarter. For example no managers or supervisors are included. Also the fact that they have to even vote is evidence that they want to force people to join, or at least force them to pay union dues. Otherwise why not create a union without a vote instead?
        6y ago

faitswulff 6y ago

What is the primary difference between EU and US style unions?

082349872349872 6y ago
Board seats?
- username90 6y ago
  That is only in Germany and not typical for EU.
  - skitout 6y ago
    And Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden (but with less seats than Germany) https://www.worker-participation.eu/National-Industrial-Relations/Across-Europe/Board-level-Representation2 https://www.worker-participation.eu/National-Industrial-Rela...
username90 6y ago
US unions are usually per company and forces everyone working in a specific area in that company to join or quit, meaning that anyone performing a specific job function needs to join said union. This leads to the "You can't plug a computer into a socket if you aren't in the electrician union" problem, the reason they say that is they think the company could oust the union by hiring people to do that work without properly labeling them. EU unions are bigger and more general but aren't allowed to force workers to join, ie EU is a "right to work" area. This avoids most of the problems with US style unions and also gives workers more political power since EU style unions are bigger and can therefore more easily influence national politics.
- skitout 6y ago
  In my understanding unions that can "forces everyone working in a specific area in that company to join or quit" are exceptions not the rules in 2020 USA (and clearly not what the article was talking about). Perhaps am I ill informed (never been in USA, and my friend living there are not in unions), could you give us some sources saying that what you say is the main form of union in USA today ?
  - username90 6y ago
    Kickstarter is such a union. Many of the union members didn't want it. I'd bet even most of the software engineers didn't want it, but were forced to since they were bundled up with a lot of unrelated professions. > In the end, employees voted 46-to-37 in favor of unionizing > As of February 2020, the union was made up of 85 engineers, directors, analysts, designers, coordinators, and customer support specialists https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21257585/kickstarter-layoffs-employees-union-negotiations-severance https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21257585/kickstarter-layo...
    - skitout 6y ago
      The union "represented about 60 percent of the company’s 140 employees prior to the layoffs". From the article you mentioned. If 40% of the workers are not part of the union, seems that you are free to be part or not of the union. And that the union makes sense to the worker, as more than half of the workforce choose to join.
      - username90 6y ago
        The union doesn't include every employee group at kickstarter. For example no managers or supervisors are included. Also the fact that they have to even vote is evidence that they want to force people to join, or at least force them to pay union dues. Otherwise why not create a union without a vote instead?
        6y ago