[djsumdog]

It's interesting because it would need to have the teeth of a union yes, but unlike unions of the past that lobbied for better wages and working conditions, what is being proposed is a union to ensure their company does what the workers feel is morally right for the world (not necessarily their customers, but the greater community of people affected by each companies goals and purposes).

[AndrewKemendo]

I understand that's the thrust of the post, but practically those things aren't really that much different if done effectively.

You make a good point though and if the intention is that it will result in some kind of engineering code of conduct or Hippocratic oath - then my guess is that it will have too many hurdles. The military code of conduct is immensely difficult to arbitrate and the Hippocratic oath isn't anything without governing boards for certification and licensure.

So there needs to be a power structure somewhere that holds the power of the members if it's going to be worthwhile and that would have to be linked to the other tangibles like pay and time.

It comes down to how and what is measured. Time and Pay are easy to measure, if your MongoDB is being implemented "morally" or not is much muddier.

[Kalium]

What you're describing isn't a union. What you're describing in a professional association that helps protect workers who make ethical decisions that land somewhere awkward.

You don't get the power of a union without the self-interest that makes a union.

[eli_gottlieb]

Well personally, I feel that what's morally right for the world is that tech workers should get better wages and working conditions, while standing in solidarity with the non-technical employees at tech companies to help them get the same.