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Are software devs who join unions getting paid more than those who do the classic either: (a) 2 year hops or (b) find a company that gives good rises to take yo

Are software devs who join unions getting paid more than those who do the classic either: (a) 2 year hops or (b) find a company that gives good rises to take you above market rate.

tomlockwood 3y ago
The good news is you can do both of those things and still be a member of a union! And additionally, there's lots of evidence to suggest that union members get paid more https://www.australianunions.org.au/factsheet/union-members-earn-26-more-than-non-members-per-week-heres-why/ https://www.australianunions.org.au/factsheet/union-members-... Union penetration is decidedly low in tech, and tech companies coincidentally have some of the highest cash reserves of any industry. People in tech often think, why should I join my union, I already get paid a lot! Bosses love that attitude.
- quickthrower2 3y ago
  If I am the only one at my company who is in a union, how does the union help me negotiate more salary? Or does it rely on enough people at my company joining?
  - tomlockwood 3y ago
    If unions have the funding to advocate for higher wages, even at other companies, wages in the industry will rise to remain competitive. Additionally unions can offer you support in workplace disputes, and so function as a kind of legal employment insurance, even when density in your workplace is low.
    - billy99k 3y ago
      Wages in the US tech industry are some of the most competitive in the world. "Additionally unions can offer you support in workplace disputes," It also makes it really difficult to fire bad/incompetent workers.
      - tomlockwood 3y ago
        Competitive with who? Tech companies are some of the largest in the world right now.
- billy99k 3y ago
  "Union penetration is decidedly low in tech, and tech companies coincidentally have some of the highest cash reserves of any industry. People in tech often think, why should I join my union, I already get paid a lot! Bosses love that attitude." If unions are anything like they are in the US, you lose your individual bargaining power in favor of the collective. IE: if you want a raise as a software developer, everyone at your level will also need to get a raise. In addition to this, you end up paying the unions a tax in the form of dues, like a small government and you are forced to strike (like the UAW), even when you are satisfied with your current position/salary. I can negotiate my own salary with any employer and I am normally well compensated. A union will not help me and will only hinder my future success. Unions are normally for people that have lower-skilled jobs that can easily be replaced by the thousands of other people that can do the same thing (hence, having no individual negotiating power and needing someone to protect them). This generally doesn't apply to people in the tech industry.
  - tomlockwood 3y ago
    If your union agreement contains insufficient levels for you to progress, that's a bad agreement. Collective bargaining leads to better wages on average.

Are software devs who join unions getting paid more than those who do the classic either: (a) 2 year hops or (b) find a company that gives good rises to take you above market rate.

tomlockwood 3y ago

The good news is you can do both of those things and still be a member of a union! And additionally, there's lots of evidence to suggest that union members get paid more https://www.australianunions.org.au/factsheet/union-members-earn-26-more-than-non-members-per-week-heres-why/ https://www.australianunions.org.au/factsheet/union-members-... Union penetration is decidedly low in tech, and tech companies coincidentally have some of the highest cash reserves of any industry. People in tech often think, why should I join my union, I already get paid a lot! Bosses love that attitude.

quickthrower2 3y ago
If I am the only one at my company who is in a union, how does the union help me negotiate more salary? Or does it rely on enough people at my company joining?
- tomlockwood 3y ago
  If unions have the funding to advocate for higher wages, even at other companies, wages in the industry will rise to remain competitive. Additionally unions can offer you support in workplace disputes, and so function as a kind of legal employment insurance, even when density in your workplace is low.
  - billy99k 3y ago
    Wages in the US tech industry are some of the most competitive in the world. "Additionally unions can offer you support in workplace disputes," It also makes it really difficult to fire bad/incompetent workers.
    - tomlockwood 3y ago
      Competitive with who? Tech companies are some of the largest in the world right now.
billy99k 3y ago
"Union penetration is decidedly low in tech, and tech companies coincidentally have some of the highest cash reserves of any industry. People in tech often think, why should I join my union, I already get paid a lot! Bosses love that attitude." If unions are anything like they are in the US, you lose your individual bargaining power in favor of the collective. IE: if you want a raise as a software developer, everyone at your level will also need to get a raise. In addition to this, you end up paying the unions a tax in the form of dues, like a small government and you are forced to strike (like the UAW), even when you are satisfied with your current position/salary. I can negotiate my own salary with any employer and I am normally well compensated. A union will not help me and will only hinder my future success. Unions are normally for people that have lower-skilled jobs that can easily be replaced by the thousands of other people that can do the same thing (hence, having no individual negotiating power and needing someone to protect them). This generally doesn't apply to people in the tech industry.
- tomlockwood 3y ago
  If your union agreement contains insufficient levels for you to progress, that's a bad agreement. Collective bargaining leads to better wages on average.