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Several have mentioned that contemporary tech workers (mostly?) are privileged and have leverage in negotiations that allows them to individually gain what othe
by 627467 6y ago
Several have mentioned that contemporary tech workers (mostly?) are privileged and have leverage in negotiations that allows them to individually gain what others in other industry can only get through unions. Part of that leverage comes from having lots of options. And why is there lots of options? Because "anyone" can start a tech company. The main mean of production of a tech outfit is the tech workers themselves.
Companies don't own the workers.
A steelworker can only do what they are skillfully specialized to do by using capital goods own by the company. Hence they can't negotiate with their feet (leaving) while a tech worker can.
Tech workers can work (remotely) for virtually any company in the world.
A farm worker can't.
All this may change in the future, but with some privileged tech workers (I'm not one of them) being able to retire in their 30s and 40s now I don't see why as a whole the industry is incentivized to unionize.
- skitout 6y agoIf you are super handsome, rich, smart and young, it is easier for you than most people to find another girlfriend / boyfriend... but you still want to have influence of the big decision inside your couple, you don't want to be abused...
- 627467 6y agoFollowing that metaphor: the way I see US tech sector is akin to people in their twenties, prioritizing individual experiences and growth and postponing settling with anyone for now. Plus: who do you unionse with in a couple? If the point is to avoid abuse from the other part? If I want to have big say in an organization I become a shareholder (ie. Buy the ring) which, for many tech workers that is true (through stock grants/options).
- Apocryphon 6y agoPeople grow up and their options become constrained. This industry will too. And will you then regret not having made different choices earlier? Shareholder voices have become increasingly weakened in recent years, and not just at Facebook either. https://www.wsj.com/articles/control-geeks-tech-founders-want-ipo-investors-not-their-input-1491236464 https://www.wsj.com/articles/control-geeks-tech-founders-wan... https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/business/dealbook/lyft-ipo-shareholders-pinterest.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/business/dealbook/lyft-ip...
- skitout 6y agoUnion can help to fight abuse in the workplace, does this seems to you irrelevant to tech workers ? If I understand you comment, you are against the fact that workers should have a say in an organization ??? That only shareholders could have a say ???