zlacker

>>blago+(OP)
Tech companies in general and Amazon specifically seem scared to death of unionization. I think Amazon's actions in this matter are going to backfire tremendously.

>>ipsoca+qv
...and anyone who's had to work with a union can understand why.

>>koheri+mJ
Having worked with unions, is it because they tend to have better benefits and support for their employees? Having a union rep in their disciplinary activities?

I assume your comment is that Amazon would lose money if a union happened?

>>Pfhrea+EM
Having worked with unions, it is because they introduce and entirely new and superfluous bureaucratic hierarchy to a company.

I have had situations where it was not allowed to move a computer monitor from one cube to another - that had to be done by a union employee. Literally taking a unused spare monitor from one desk, and putting it on another employees desk where it was need. ...and there was a formal requisition process to get that done which took two weeks to get through approvals, assignment, and finally have it done.

I have had union workers walk off the job during a major system outage because their facility managers forced them to take their break time. The whole company was down - it was all-hands-on-deck outage due to Hurricane Sandy. The actual union workers wanted to help us get the systems back online for the company, but the union rep wouldn't let them work.

I have had great workers quit or refuse jobs with our company because they knew and loathed the union - not the company, but the UNION.

I don't have any problem with unions at companies that protect the SAFETY of workers, as they are needed in various industrial jobs. ...but at a TECH companies where workers are making six figures, have matched 401k plans, and safe and comfortable desk jobs? ...it just screams "ridiculous" to me.

>>koheri+mo1
You can use asterisks around a word for emphasis, it reads less like you are yelling.

Some reasons to have unions at tech companies:

IP restrictions, unpaid oncall/overtime, crunch, getting a larger cut of the wealth they produce, better parental/health/timeoff benefits, having a representative in disciplinary hearings, requiring clear salary and performance processes, and about a half dozen other ideas.

You can disagree that these are real concerns at tech companies, but they are not ridiculous.

>>Pfhrea+mt1
How does overtime / unpaid time work with salary workers? How much will the union take from my pay? Any amount is unacceptable given the current tax climate. Honestly it sounds like you just need a better company if you have these concerns. I work for the exact company in this article and we have all of these things you listed.