RE: Tech Writer Lawsuit; STC position?

["Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>]

Geoff Hart wrote: 

> STC should always try to play a role in establishing legal precedents
> that protect technical communicators and establish our importance and
> legal rights. This is what professional associations do all the time,
> and it's a shame we aren't doing it.

A nice idea, but here's the fly in the ointment: At least some portion
of STC members (me, for instance) believe that many of the arguments
we've heard regarding "legal rights" and overtime will only diminish the
profession's stature and importance, implicitly promoting the notion
that we're clerical help. 

Donald H. White wrote: 
 
> As for the union "issue;" the Society is not a union and never will
become
> one. To a degree, in my opinion, that's unfortunate. While some
> practitioners of our crafts may consistently experience success in
their
> individual negotiations with companies and agencies, this does not
apply
> uniformly. <snip>

I should hope not! I've cleaned up enough messes from previous tech
writers to know that some in our profession experience _more_ success
than they deserve. We certainly don't perform uniformly, so why should
we be treated uniformly?

I sure don't want STC (or anyone else) acting like the NEA and insisting
that all tech writers are excellent and that any attempt to
differentiate good from bad performance (and reward on that basis) is
likely to be unfair. 

I'm sure there are people in the left tail of the distribution who
disagree, and I understand their point of view. But don't expect me to
cooperate with it. Any effort at "leveling" inevitably pounds down those
who stick out, and generally by far more than it raises up those who
lag. 

Richard


Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------






^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.