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My wife works in health care in Canada, in a paramedical role. Despite working in both Union and non-Union roles, she absolutely prefers working in private clin

My wife works in health care in Canada, in a paramedical role. Despite working in both Union and non-Union roles, she absolutely prefers working in private clinics without Union oversight. The reason is simple: the total compensation is better, and none of the petty personal politics of the public sector Union gets in the way of her efforts. Similarly, I have numerous members of my extended family who worked or still work in government Union roles. Most hate their union, due to the aforementioned petty politics, some have moved to private industry and become much happier, and notably the only one happy with their union is deeply involved in it. When people say tech should unionize I wonder what is so appealing about being compensated less, having opportunities for internal progression gated by seniority, and giving your job an extra thick layer of social harassment and stress. But then, I live in Canada, and we have some fairly decent basic employment rights and social supports.

UtopiaPunk 4y ago
Anecdotes are neat. I have a lot of friends and family who work in education and in medicine. Some are union, some aren't. The unionized workers are really happy to have the support of their union. The COVID pandemic was brutal on both industries. I recall one of them saying, "I feel like the only people that care about what happens to me is my union."
- dleslie 4y ago
  COVID was brutal on medical here in Canada, and seems to have been the final push to send our health care system into full collapse. The unions basically abandoned their membership, taking no meaningful action beyond some wailing to the press. At least inflation seems to be giving some impetus to take action, with BCGEU taking job action. Three years after COVID hit and only because every member, regardless of seniority and cushy position, is hit by the effects of inflation.

UtopiaPunk 4y ago

Anecdotes are neat. I have a lot of friends and family who work in education and in medicine. Some are union, some aren't. The unionized workers are really happy to have the support of their union. The COVID pandemic was brutal on both industries. I recall one of them saying, "I feel like the only people that care about what happens to me is my union."

dleslie 4y ago
COVID was brutal on medical here in Canada, and seems to have been the final push to send our health care system into full collapse. The unions basically abandoned their membership, taking no meaningful action beyond some wailing to the press. At least inflation seems to be giving some impetus to take action, with BCGEU taking job action. Three years after COVID hit and only because every member, regardless of seniority and cushy position, is hit by the effects of inflation.