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If unionization were endemic to the global economy, that might work. Lacking that, power dynamics are such that workers need protections enshrined in legislati

by Andrex 3y ago

If unionization were endemic to the global economy, that might work. Lacking that, power dynamics are such that workers need protections enshrined in legislation. If salaries are a race-to-the-bottom, nobody benefits except the ones doing the hiring. You may have a "job," but the market salary average would be depressed while the companies enjoy a large talent pool of replaceable workers. If I didn't know history too well, I likely wouldn't hold this position. But it's clear as day if you crack open a history book.

financypants 3y ago
When would candidates compete to work for less? I haven’t seen that demonstrated anywhere. I have seen firms compete on pay.
- badosu 3y ago
  When they can replace you no matter how talented you are, it only takes hiring the next bright eyed young aspiring artist.
- Andrex 3y ago
  > When would candidates compete to work for less? The first example to jump out in my mind is gov't contractors, which isn't a direct analogue to workers but the mentality of undercutting your competition to get ahead is basic human nature IMO. Two candidates vying for the same job wouldn't consciously sabotage each other (let's assume). But if they both give a salary quote, why wouldn't the lower-priced candidate be a more appealing hire? With no protections, it would come down to whoever is willing (or able) to cut more pieces of their body off to win the job. And that behavior is not conducive to a well-functioning economy that supports a large and contented middle class, which is the preferred economic status of all state actors.
madrox 3y ago
Unions were on my mind when I read this. However, for some reason unions don't tend to take over in creative fields or fields of passion. SAG-AFTRA is the only exception to this that I can think of. This is why I think it's become common practice for tech companies to profit share. We take it for granted now, but it's not common...especially for artists.
- Andrex 3y ago
  "Creative" unionization (for lack of a better term) doesn't pop up often in the news but it's absolutely out there and growing. Keep an eye on the gaming and VFX industries over the next few years. https://www.theverge.com/23789935/sega-union-cwa-unionization-activision-blizzard https://www.theverge.com/23789935/sega-union-cwa-unionizatio... https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-activision-blizzard-inc-gaming-communications-workers-of-america-62771a0556e445fd4f7945e7c36f2239 https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-activision-bl... https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/marvel-vfx-artists-unanimously-vote-to-unionize.html https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/marvel-vfx-artists-unanimous... https://iatse.net/avatar-vfx-artists-file-for-union-election-as-momentum-for-vfx-union-movement-grows/ https://iatse.net/avatar-vfx-artists-file-for-union-election... It also must be said that during the Hollywood strikes last year, it was the Writer's Guild that drove the talks and were the ones to get the studios to capitulate. And I find writing to be the building block of creativity and passion for a lot of industries. Every story starts somewhere, these days usually on a writer's PC. That the WGA is demonstrably one of the strongest unions in America makes me very happy, but a little forelorn other unions aren't nearly as strong. IATSE isn't regarded nearly as respectfully in Hollywood, for instance.

by Andrex 3y ago

financypants 3y ago

When would candidates compete to work for less? I haven’t seen that demonstrated anywhere. I have seen firms compete on pay.

badosu 3y ago
When they can replace you no matter how talented you are, it only takes hiring the next bright eyed young aspiring artist.
Andrex 3y ago
> When would candidates compete to work for less? The first example to jump out in my mind is gov't contractors, which isn't a direct analogue to workers but the mentality of undercutting your competition to get ahead is basic human nature IMO. Two candidates vying for the same job wouldn't consciously sabotage each other (let's assume). But if they both give a salary quote, why wouldn't the lower-priced candidate be a more appealing hire? With no protections, it would come down to whoever is willing (or able) to cut more pieces of their body off to win the job. And that behavior is not conducive to a well-functioning economy that supports a large and contented middle class, which is the preferred economic status of all state actors.

madrox 3y ago

Unions were on my mind when I read this. However, for some reason unions don't tend to take over in creative fields or fields of passion. SAG-AFTRA is the only exception to this that I can think of. This is why I think it's become common practice for tech companies to profit share. We take it for granted now, but it's not common...especially for artists.

Andrex 3y ago
"Creative" unionization (for lack of a better term) doesn't pop up often in the news but it's absolutely out there and growing. Keep an eye on the gaming and VFX industries over the next few years. https://www.theverge.com/23789935/sega-union-cwa-unionization-activision-blizzard https://www.theverge.com/23789935/sega-union-cwa-unionizatio... https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-activision-blizzard-inc-gaming-communications-workers-of-america-62771a0556e445fd4f7945e7c36f2239 https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-activision-bl... https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/marvel-vfx-artists-unanimously-vote-to-unionize.html https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/marvel-vfx-artists-unanimous... https://iatse.net/avatar-vfx-artists-file-for-union-election-as-momentum-for-vfx-union-movement-grows/ https://iatse.net/avatar-vfx-artists-file-for-union-election... It also must be said that during the Hollywood strikes last year, it was the Writer's Guild that drove the talks and were the ones to get the studios to capitulate. And I find writing to be the building block of creativity and passion for a lot of industries. Every story starts somewhere, these days usually on a writer's PC. That the WGA is demonstrably one of the strongest unions in America makes me very happy, but a little forelorn other unions aren't nearly as strong. IATSE isn't regarded nearly as respectfully in Hollywood, for instance.