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As long as tech workers can credibly threaten to quit I think that’s easier than unionizing. Unions are great when you have a single big employer (a monopsony)
by efxhoy 3y ago
As long as tech workers can credibly threaten to quit I think that’s easier than unionizing. Unions are great when you have a single big employer (a monopsony) like the public sector or a dominant single company, like a factory in a small town. Then the “monopoly” of the union is matched to the monopsony of the single employer. But there are still many tech companies competing for skilled workers. As long as we can say we quit if they force us back to the office I don’t see the need to unionize.
- throwawaaarrgh 3y agoUnions are applicable for any number of employers and jobs, big or small, many or few. Sure, threatening to quit is easy. But doing the easy thing isn't the same as doing the right thing. Unionizing allows us to prevent unpaid overtime, demand more vacation, better health care, fewer contractors, more diverse hiring, fewer hiring restrictions, and of course, things like wfh, child care, family leave, maternity and paternity. Things corporations making hundreds of billions in profits could easily do, but will never do unless we organize.
- efxhoy 3y agoI guess my "don't bother unionizing" take is extremely dependent on where you live. I'm in Sweden where we already have very generous benefits and labour friendly laws.