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What leverage do unions have over salaries? Google is a very profitable company, redirecting half of the profit from shareholders to employees would result in a

What leverage do unions have over salaries? Google is a very profitable company, redirecting half of the profit from shareholders to employees would result in a very significant salary increase. (Just curious, I'm not stating any opinion on this.)

losvedir 6y ago
What do you mean by profit going to shareholders? Alphabet doesn't have a dividend.
- RivieraKid 6y ago
  It's either reinvested or saved in the bank so it stays in the ownership of shareholders. In general, reinvestment is preferred over dividends (or stock buybacks which is similar to dividends) when it's expected that the reinvestment will generate a good return in the future and this return would be given to shareholders.
gcr 6y ago
AWU includes temps, vendors, and contractors (TVCs), who are not at all paid the way full-time employees are. I'm sure there's a lot of gains to make to ensure everyone has equitable pay. That said, a lot of work that AWU is doing focuses on values organizing and employee ethics. Structures like this union help balance the power between workers and executives at Alphabet.
- chasd00 6y ago
  that's ominous, so if you don't tow the union line on the social issue of the day then they can prevent you from being a member which will be required for employment?
  - ATsch 6y ago
    Unlike corporations like Google, who would never fire (sorry, "quit voluntarily") someone for criticizing the stance of the company on social issues.
    - visarga 6y ago
      Yeah, they should have taken her punch right to the face with a smile, without flinching, then apologized to her. Instead they said 'yes, right now' when she said 'here are my terms, you got to accept them or I leave'. Who would do that?
      - SamoyedFurFluff 6y ago
        They could at least admit she was terminated and not this “accept resignation” hogwash. I have no issue firing a worker who encourages peers to put less effort into the job. But at least say you’re doing so!
      - ATsch 6y ago
        I'm confused, is losing your job for disagreement on social issues good or bad now? Or do these concerns about the people and factors that decide who does and doesn't get to work somewhere mysteriously stop and start at unions.
ATsch 6y ago
That depends on a number of things. Theoretically the leverage is infinite, as companies can not get anything done without workers. However in practice, strike funds won't last forever, people won't be willing to strike forever, it's in your interest to keep a relatively good relationship with the company, etc.
- saalweachter 6y ago
  Granted, it will vary person to person for a lot of good reasons, but it seems to me like the average white-collar tech worker out have a lot more personal savings than the average blue-collar factory worker.

losvedir 6y ago

What do you mean by profit going to shareholders? Alphabet doesn't have a dividend.

RivieraKid 6y ago
It's either reinvested or saved in the bank so it stays in the ownership of shareholders. In general, reinvestment is preferred over dividends (or stock buybacks which is similar to dividends) when it's expected that the reinvestment will generate a good return in the future and this return would be given to shareholders.

gcr 6y ago

AWU includes temps, vendors, and contractors (TVCs), who are not at all paid the way full-time employees are. I'm sure there's a lot of gains to make to ensure everyone has equitable pay. That said, a lot of work that AWU is doing focuses on values organizing and employee ethics. Structures like this union help balance the power between workers and executives at Alphabet.

chasd00 6y ago
that's ominous, so if you don't tow the union line on the social issue of the day then they can prevent you from being a member which will be required for employment?
- ATsch 6y ago
  Unlike corporations like Google, who would never fire (sorry, "quit voluntarily") someone for criticizing the stance of the company on social issues.
  - visarga 6y ago
    Yeah, they should have taken her punch right to the face with a smile, without flinching, then apologized to her. Instead they said 'yes, right now' when she said 'here are my terms, you got to accept them or I leave'. Who would do that?
    - SamoyedFurFluff 6y ago
      They could at least admit she was terminated and not this “accept resignation” hogwash. I have no issue firing a worker who encourages peers to put less effort into the job. But at least say you’re doing so!
    - ATsch 6y ago
      I'm confused, is losing your job for disagreement on social issues good or bad now? Or do these concerns about the people and factors that decide who does and doesn't get to work somewhere mysteriously stop and start at unions.

ATsch 6y ago

That depends on a number of things. Theoretically the leverage is infinite, as companies can not get anything done without workers. However in practice, strike funds won't last forever, people won't be willing to strike forever, it's in your interest to keep a relatively good relationship with the company, etc.

saalweachter 6y ago
Granted, it will vary person to person for a lot of good reasons, but it seems to me like the average white-collar tech worker out have a lot more personal savings than the average blue-collar factory worker.