Re: Technical Writing Union

Subject: Re: Technical Writing Union
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 18:51:02 -0800

Steve Arrants wrote:

I'm not sure that a union makes sense for FTE.
One of the most useful things that the unions I've belonged to have done is set standards for a minimum assignment for part-time and temporary workers. They also try to have such workers covered by collective agreements. There was a time when these efforts made a large dsifference in our household budget.

The work environments are
quite different from industrial or retail sites where unions started and
predominate.
I don't know what the case is in the USA, but, in Canada, I believe that clerical workers form the majority of union members. Also, many professional associations, such as the teachers in BC, basically function as a union.+

When unions first formed in the US, there were very real,
dangerous problems within the workplace that couldn't be solved by the "If
you don't like it, leave" approach. As bad as our jobs are sometimes, it
isn't even remotely close to that of mineworkers in the 1920s.

Maybe not, but why is that relevant? Just because a situation could be worse is no reason to endure it.


--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"What will I say when my children ask me,
'Where were you flying on that day?'
With trembling voice, I gave the order
To the bombardier of Enola Gay."
-Utah Phillips, "Enola Gay"




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References:
RE: Technical Writing Union: From: Ehr, Meg
Re: Technical Writing Union: From: Steve Arrants

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