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I realize that this topic has been posted before, but what would you guys feel about a Tech Organization, or Union that provided us with some unified benefits, training, group buys, job descriptions and pay scales, etc, etc, etc.
Please do not put one word answers in here. If you like the idea - please tell me why, if you do not like the idea, again give me reasons. I would like to begin writing up some sort of brainstorm for a NPO on this concept and would like your input.
A few things that I though would be nice advantages are:
On-line training (CBT)
Standardised Testing - with Industry recognition - free
Discounts on Hardware and software for professionals
Standards for Job posting and pay scale - at least a source of information.
support information - links to windrivers.com
basically a huge information source
information for various tech groups nationwide
pertinant industry information.
recalls, issues, etc...
What else would be of interest to you, or what are your thoughts?
Like all other unions this would be a fantastic thing at the beginning, but over time, it would become rotten and corrupt and result in things being just as bad as they were to begin with.
A temporary good thing is my short answer.
No.
I have lived (and therefore worked) in the SouthEast most of my life. The states here are all open shop -- unions can come in, but you can't force everyone to join them.
Without exception, the union plants / companies are the worst places to work. Companies can and do deal quite well with employees these days without a collective body. Cheap lawyers have proved to be a better equalizer than unions could ever be.
Not only would I oppose unions (why give up more of my pay for no gain), I cannot see any logical path other than to oppose them.
Vehemently.
All the benefits are paid for with dues, none of them are free. The more benefits the more it costs to be in the union. Pay scales just make me more expensive for my boss and give advantage to underqualified techs. Who would run this thing? I wonder if he/she would earn more than the average tech he/she represents? How would a union affect certs? Pay scales and certs, who makes up this scale? I like to be able to promote myself in a free market where I'm not pigeoned holed into a position.
A union is a bad idea.
My .02 cents
I'm getting reamed here. I work for about half of what I'm worth. I have no benefits. I work holidays and weekends.
And I still oppose a Union.
I used to be a member of UAW, boy that was a mess. 2 different places I worked were UAW, one made automobile parts and one made semi trailers. It didn't really matter what we were making, though, the Union could have screwed up a Twinkie factory (and probably does, anyone know if Hostess is Union? <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> )
My family and friends' families were all either UAW, Teamsters, or whatever union was whereever they worked, and all I ever heard growing up was Strike This and Wages That and Benefits and so on... the problem is, no one was getting any work done, and Allison Transmission cut thousands of jobs and GM workers went on strike and Ford workers went to arbitration, and now all those Union workers were sitting at home, their benefits gone and their families surviving off of Unemployment, and IBM pulled up shop and moved their local factory overseas, so they wouldn't have to pay Union wage here.
So what good did unions do us?
My big problem with Unions is Seniority.
I am an overacheiver, and give 110% at my job. If I was in a union that would turn the other workers against me, and not benefit me in any way. Because I tend to move up fast, it would really hurt me to be in a union.
I say NO.
tech unions would be nice.. but they do come with their problems... besides, most of the shops where i live are small computer stores which sell parts... if you were talking some kind of tech union where there were any big corparations with techs, then it would be a good thing.. maybe...