Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

It’s cool be be selfish.

Collective bargaining exists to protect people who have less negotiating power than you claim to have yourself. Don’t need it? Cool, don’t use it. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea for others.




Work provides value. If you have no negotiating power then you likely would be unemployed otherwise.

I understand that in Europe it's common for a quarter to a third of jobs are public sector and a large percentage of jobs in the private sector are propped up by government spending, but that's much less common here in the US. Employment isn't usually a subsidy.


> Work provides value. If you have no negotiating power then you likely would be unemployed otherwise.

Tell that to the unskilled workforce that operates all around you, likely both in your professional and personal life.


I've been unskilled labor. I didn't start my engineering career until my 30s.

I always had more negotiating power than I thought I did...except in my three union jobs, where I had zero negotiating power.


I've posted several times in the past about how I've been a part of no less than three separate unions (forced into as a condition of employment).

My pay was peanuts; the union took way too much of it and when I actually needed the unions they didn't do shit for me.

Outside of federal employment, unions in the US are hopelessly broken and frequently do more harm than good.


Don't use it? How can I do that when I'm legally forced to do so?


I’ve worked in unionised industries in two countries and neither required union membership, it was optional.

I can’t speak for everywhere though. Maybe you can provide a reference showing that your local legislation works this way?


It seems to me you were supporting the op when he said

>It could be nice if companies would be forced to set up collective workers representation entities when they reach a certain numbers of employees, where I am the limit is of 50 employees, then you must have a collective representation

So if that was the case, how can I work for a large company without such workers representation?


What the OP is describing is that the company must provide a way for it's staff to join a union that they recognise. The individual staff members are still free to choose whether or not they want to join.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: