this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2023
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Gaming

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (41 children)

Eh, more of a case by case basis in the tech industry imo. Most game studio devs should probably unionize, but it's not all horror stories everywhere. I'm not against unionization by any means and it's always on the table, but when me and my coworkers already have great pay, great benefits, stable careers, and great work life balance I don't really see what additional benefits it would bring. It's an over-generalization to say that you'll be earning more money as a union employee when you're already making more than 90% of the population, I know first hand that some trades even make more than their unionized counterparts in my area.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (40 children)

It would being better pay, better benefits, even more stable careers and better work-life balance.

It doesn’t matter how much money you’re already making, or how good your benefits already are. If you have a Union, you can negotiate for improvements. There is always room for improvement, unless you’re working at a fully-mutual workers cooperative.

I know first hand that some trades even make more than their unionized counterparts

I’d be interested to learn more, do you have a source or anything?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (38 children)

I already negotiate. Every couple years I interview around, I get a job offer, I take it back it my employer and they either match it or I leave. I've personally increased my salary 6x since I've joined the industry about a decade ago, I know people who have increased it more. I don't know anyone in a unionized field who's managed to achieved anything like this. I don't know that it's impossible, just seems to be much more rare. I'm a specialized individual in a specialized industry, I already have bargaining power and I definitely reject that my compensation, benefits, job stability, and WLB would be better if I had been unionized this whole time.

I’d be interested to learn more, do you have a source or anything?

Like I said, first hand. Purely anecdotal, I'm sure it isn't the case for all union jobs.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Every couple years I interview around, I get a job offer, I take it back it my employer and they either match it or I leave.

I don't even have to do that. My employer always give me good raises and even better bonuses. Every year.

Benefits are great. PTO is great. Work-life balance is great. No layoffs whatsoever. It's not just about making money for the company and the owners, but the rest of the employees as well.

I don't need the strife from trying to start a union here. Save it for companies that have pushed their employees too far. Unionize where it's going to have the greatest benefit.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ever talked to the cleaning staff how they're faring? Your suppliers in Cambodia (or wherever)?

It's not that hard for capital to see reason when it comes to specialised, educated, and sometimes right out irreplaceable workers, but that doesn't mean that capital suddenly developed a conscience.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We don't have cleaning staff. Try again.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You know perfectly well what I meant and the intent and purpose behind my comment. Try again.

And even if you're working in a five person co-op outfit and someone of you indeed does scrub the toilet: What about the dishwashers at that Chinese takeout you order at every other day. How does your actual supply chain look like, even if it's pizza and coffee.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What are you arguing about exactly? Not a single comment in this chain is anti union at all, and the comment you replied to even argued for unionization where it will have the greatest benefit, i.e. all the jobs you just mentioned.

Why are you acting like this is some sort of prisoner's dilemma where either everyone unionizes or no one does?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nice buzzword answer, but nobody here is against your right to unionize

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

And I never said anyone was. That's something you came up with.

All I wanted to do is remind people is that capital giving a fuck about your ass doesn't mean that said capital is benevolent, or you shouldn't organise, because it's still going to fuck anyone over it can get away with fucking over. Like the cleaning staff.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The decision for tech to unionize has nothing to do with how the cleaning staff is treated

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

How can you force the bosses to pay cleaning staff properly if the engineers aren't striking for them? There's a gazillion desperate scabs out there and I can't even blame them, how can you blame someone with two jobs for wanting a third to pay rent.

...that, btw, is why the likes of the IWW organise companies and industries, and not trades.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Engineers striking for the cleaning staff? What? That's not how it works

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not without class consciousness, no. But yes that is how it often works in countries that aren't the US. Occasionally, it also works in the US, e.g. the Hollywood strikes right now. Was it the writers I think who got a proper offer right now and they said they're going to continue until others got theirs, too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Not how the writers strike went either, it's ending and has nothing to do with the other IATSE contracts.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That's great, I'm finally at a point in my career where I think it'll be the same. As long as there isn't a major culture shift, I could see myself staying at this job for the next 10+ years

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