[triceratops]

> Does a union negotiating system make sense in a individual contributor focused profession?

Is software engineering any more of an individual contributor focused profession than acting or professional soccer. All of those people are in unions. The highest performers in those fields can essentially name their price; their union membership doesn't hold them back in that regard. On the other hand, soccer players that pick up a bad injury and have their career cut short are somewhat taken care of. Not-very-successful actors still get health insurance, if they work a certain amount every year.

A union doesn't have to negotiate your salary. That's just how a lot of labor unions are set up in the US. A union could just negotiate a floor on wages, conditions, or benefits.