this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2024
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There's a caveat:
Don't unions really restrict your salary growth in fields where there's actual potential for it?
I'm in software engineering and I reckon a whole bunch of people would be unhappy if their salary was in a direct relationship with their years of experience.
Though if the gravy train ever ends, I'll be the first to advocate for unions.
No. In Germany the big companies all have unions. You can always try to negotiate for better conditions, but it always has to be at least the union Tarif. If you can show that you are worth more you can get it.
Okay, that's actually a good thing. I've heard unions in the US apparently often restrict individual bargaining, as that would undermine the collective bargaining of the union. So in that case, your coworker who's been working for 20 years, will make twice as much as you do at your 2 years, despite the fact that all he does all day is scratch his balls, while you bust your ass off. And you have no way of earning more than them.
Either way it doesn't affect me because I'm in Estonia and in a field where we generally get paid well enough even without unions. But I also know this won't last forever, because right now there's way too many unemployed software engineers.
Nope.
Why would increasing your bargaining power lower your wages?
If you read my other comment, basically I've heard from other commenters online that some collective bargaining agreements restrict individual bargaining. That would suck. If the union only sets floors instead of absolutes or ranges, that is another thing entirely and something that I'm very much in favor of.
Those commenters have no idea what they are talking about. You are always stronger aligned with your fellow workers.