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Honest question: would a union help protect workers here? I know many people here don't like unions in practice (corruption, stagnation, etc.), but isn't this

by diafygi 12y ago

Honest question: would a union help protect workers here? I know many people here don't like unions in practice (corruption, stagnation, etc.), but isn't this kind of thing exactly what unions are for? It seems like employers are adding these because the feel they have more negotiating power.

chrismcb 12y ago
Yes. But in reality the government should be looking out for the workers. do we need a waitressing union? A camp counselors union?
anonymousDan 12y ago
I'd prefer if they were just banned like in California. I struggle to believe the fact that California is the only place where non-competes are much harder to enforce isn't a major contributor to the success of the tech (Silicon Valley) & film (Hollywood) industries. Even here in the UK, companies offering zero-hours contracts have started to try and impose non-competes.
- gnopgnip 12y ago
  What is a zero hours contract?
  - patio11 12y ago
    An employment relationship with an hourly employee which, unlike more typical employment relationships with hourly employees in the UK, does not guarantee a certain minimum number of hours of work available/assigned per week/month.
- Natsu 12y ago
  I'm okay with them, actually, but only as long as the company is still paying you the same wages. I think this condition should be a requirement. No pay == no non-compete. If they're not paying, they shouldn't be able to keep you out of the market, period. It's not a fair trade otherwise and just having a job in the first place is not even remotely conscionable as 'consideration' for a clause that prevents you from working.
patio11 12y ago
The main non-compete that unions are worried about is making sure non-members can't compete with members, or members without a particular occupational classification can't compete for jobs which "belong to" other members. For example, if you're setting up your startup's booth at a unionized conference hall, be prepared to be told you cannot plug in a Macbook because you'd be competing with qualified union electricians.
phillmv 12y ago
Yes. Edit: I mean, unions are all about solving collective action problems. How outrageous is it to ask a camp counselor to sign a non compete? The only way out is if the camp counselors can band together and act as a group.

by diafygi 12y ago

chrismcb 12y ago

Yes. But in reality the government should be looking out for the workers. do we need a waitressing union? A camp counselors union?

anonymousDan 12y ago

I'd prefer if they were just banned like in California. I struggle to believe the fact that California is the only place where non-competes are much harder to enforce isn't a major contributor to the success of the tech (Silicon Valley) & film (Hollywood) industries. Even here in the UK, companies offering zero-hours contracts have started to try and impose non-competes.

gnopgnip 12y ago
What is a zero hours contract?
- patio11 12y ago
  An employment relationship with an hourly employee which, unlike more typical employment relationships with hourly employees in the UK, does not guarantee a certain minimum number of hours of work available/assigned per week/month.
Natsu 12y ago
I'm okay with them, actually, but only as long as the company is still paying you the same wages. I think this condition should be a requirement. No pay == no non-compete. If they're not paying, they shouldn't be able to keep you out of the market, period. It's not a fair trade otherwise and just having a job in the first place is not even remotely conscionable as 'consideration' for a clause that prevents you from working.

patio11 12y ago

The main non-compete that unions are worried about is making sure non-members can't compete with members, or members without a particular occupational classification can't compete for jobs which "belong to" other members. For example, if you're setting up your startup's booth at a unionized conference hall, be prepared to be told you cannot plug in a Macbook because you'd be competing with qualified union electricians.

phillmv 12y ago

Yes. Edit: I mean, unions are all about solving collective action problems. How outrageous is it to ask a camp counselor to sign a non compete? The only way out is if the camp counselors can band together and act as a group.