Are American high tech workers obsolete?

[Hewitt Tech]

Many years ago, when I first started working, I worked at a couple of
different union jobs. In at least one case I remember that the union helped
protect workers from dangerous working conditions. There are always people
who when their own life is not at risk, will willing risk yours.

But in general I've always felt that unions are symptomatic of failed
management. If management/owners have a sufficiently cavalier attitude about
the welfare of their workers, then a union will appear. In this case I'd
suggest that high tech folks need to form their own lobbying organizations.
They certainly don't need to be in the form of unions. There are
environmental organizations, it seems to their should be high tech workers
organizations as well - to promote the needs of domestic workers. At one
time the concept of a 'guild' existed.

I do find it interesting that one of the glaring areas where H1-B does not
apply is to lawyering. Perhaps lawyers (and aren't 99% of the politicians
lawyers?) had something to do with that?

-Alex

----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek D. Martin" <ddm+gnhlug at pizzashack.org>
To: <discuss at gnhlug.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: Are American high tech workers obsolete?


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> At some point hitherto, Richard Soule hath spake thusly:
> > Hewitt Tech wrote:
> > [major snipage]
> > > The idea of labor unions (and I know there are plenty of arguments
> > > against them) are heretical to them. Thoughts?
> >
> > Given the discussion, I don't see how labor unions could help in any way
> > whatsoever, and they would certainly be a drag on corporations (Demands
> > that don't reflect reality) and individuals (Tell my why I am paying
> > union dues again?).
>
> I agree...  This discussion was had on BLU recently as well, and the
> only idea that I think came out of that discussion which made sense
> was to have such an organization as a lobbying agency to the
> legistlature.  I do think this makes some sense.  But I'd prefer that
> such an organization had only that as its charter, without all the
> other nonsense I've seen from organized labor.
>
>
> - --
> Derek Martin               ddm at pizzashack.org
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