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by ocdtrekkie 2674 days ago
Yes, though I think the key word that was keeping people from realizing software developers needed unions was "meritocracy". Developers were sold on the idea that people wanting union protection were replaceable, and that they, being the fantastic coders they were, were not.
3 comments
bit_logic 2674 days ago
Developers are finally realizing the following have nothing to do with "meritocracy":

- Non-compete agreements

- Forced arbitration

- Wage fixing (such as Google, Apple, etc. used to do)

- IP ownership agreements (even when not using company equipment or time)

- H1B visa abuse

- And many more

Maybe it's also a marketing problem, don't call it a union, call it a guild or association.

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decebalus1 2674 days ago
> I think the key word that was keeping people from realizing software developers needed unions was "meritocracy"

Anyone who spent a couple of years in a corporation will know that meritocracy does not dictate career advancement or compensation. I think the tide has turned in the past years and the 'veterans' are starting to feel the ageism and the new fantastic coders aren't as thirsty drinking the kool-aid.

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stale2002 2674 days ago
No, the bigger reason why unions are never going to happen in the tech industry (thankfully), is that many unions and guilds intentionally create huge barriers to entry, in order to keep out people from non-traditional backgrounds, in order to reduce competition.

IE, to keep out immigrants, newbies, and people without degrees.

But over the last 10 years or so, there has been a huge influx of new people into the tech industry, and we are starting to outnumber those from traditional backgrounds who would have tried to prevent us from getting a job in the industry.

A bootcamper isn't going to join a union that would have outlawed their ability to get a job. An immigrant isn't going to join a union that would have them deported.

Instead, we will defect and sabotage those efforts, every step of the way. And there really are quite a lot of us in the tech industry, from non-traditional backgrounds these days. And we are smart enough to fight efforts that would have us fired, or that would pull up the ladder behind us.

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