4 ms·

Only if these so called "tech worker unions" start acting like they have an "R" in their names. Not a peep from the lot about recent layoffs or abuses going on

Only if these so called "tech worker unions" start acting like they have an "R" in their names. Not a peep from the lot about recent layoffs or abuses going on at Twitter. All they seem to care about is everyone being called by their preferred gender pronouns. They act pretty much like management plants to prevent formation of real worker-centered unions. After all, it costs much less to replace gender pronouns on various corporate websites than to give a raise. Also, no political donations from member dues please? I can already donate to whomever I want and might be amenable to follow union guidance if I see how that will make my life better. But for example, I am fine with Biden, however I am not sure if I want to support Harris reelection campaign in 2024 (let's be real about the inevitable). Have to at least see who the other candidate is, maybe DeSantis is lesser of two evils? In any case, there is no way I am paying thousands of dollars in dues every year to support candidates and causes I might oppose. For better wages / benefits / job security, maybe.

Apocryphon 4y ago
While it does certainly seem like Silicon Valley unions like the Alphabet Workers’ Union have a tendency to weigh in hot button issues, the ones I've seen are more about protesting against management taking on defense or border control contracts, not culture war issues. Do you actually have cases to back that up? On the flip side, the Tech Workers Coalition for starters certainly weighed in on the Twitter layoffs. https://news.techworkerscoalition.org/2022/11/03/issue-16/ https://news.techworkerscoalition.org/2022/11/03/issue-16/
- cat_plus_plus 4y ago
  Well, defense and border control contracts are good for employees' job security / wages while uncontrolled immigration could potentially hurt jobs and wages of existing workers. I understand that immigration also has benefits and humanitarian considerations and defense tech can be potentially misused. But if I pay $2K/year to join a labor union, I expect them to focus on protecting and improving my job and then I might separately get involved in other causes. Right now though I would gladly work on military tech to protect Ukraine and Taiwan rather than focusing on "US also has been bad sometimes".

Apocryphon 4y ago

While it does certainly seem like Silicon Valley unions like the Alphabet Workers’ Union have a tendency to weigh in hot button issues, the ones I've seen are more about protesting against management taking on defense or border control contracts, not culture war issues. Do you actually have cases to back that up? On the flip side, the Tech Workers Coalition for starters certainly weighed in on the Twitter layoffs. https://news.techworkerscoalition.org/2022/11/03/issue-16/ https://news.techworkerscoalition.org/2022/11/03/issue-16/

cat_plus_plus 4y ago
Well, defense and border control contracts are good for employees' job security / wages while uncontrolled immigration could potentially hurt jobs and wages of existing workers. I understand that immigration also has benefits and humanitarian considerations and defense tech can be potentially misused. But if I pay $2K/year to join a labor union, I expect them to focus on protecting and improving my job and then I might separately get involved in other causes. Right now though I would gladly work on military tech to protect Ukraine and Taiwan rather than focusing on "US also has been bad sometimes".