Ask HN: Your Opinion on Labor Unions for Software Developers | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Your Opinion on Labor Unions for Software Developers

3 pointstyingq3 comments

I'm curious why there isn't any notable amount of interest, discussion, etc, around a labor union for software developers.

I suspect it's somewhat driven by the general approval of a meritocracy...and a similar dislike for tenure driving compensation.

However, if I compare to other highly skilled workforces, like airline pilots...it seems we're missing out on some opportunity. It's fairly easy to find examples where their unions clearly improved working conditions, treatment during layoffs, salaries, work rules, retirement, and so forth.

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I think if you look into the airline pilots union you will see that the results are sub optimal.

Pros: The pilots have managed to capture most of the airline profit.

Cons:

(a) The arrangement accrues most of the value captured to a relatively few pilots. Incoming pilots are payed horrible wages.

(b) An experienced captain must start all over at the bottom of a new airline with intern level pay. I think the famous pilot "Scully" worked on the east coast but lived in California instead of taking a job on the west coast. If he had switched jobs he would have had to start all over at the bottom.

(c) Software development may not be a true meritocracy but it does offer the ability to (due to demand) of moving to a new job whenever you want - we just aren't that exploited that it would be worth putting up with a union.

>(b) An experienced captain must start all over at the bottom of a new airline with intern level pay.

It's true that you lose seniority, but I wouldn't call it intern level pay. As an example, at one specific airline, a captain at the bottom of the seniority list is $221/block hour, the top out is at 12 years at $251/block hour.

And, that's applicable if you move jobs yourself. Seniority lists are negotiated in cases like airline mergers.

Professionalization of software development could also result in better quality:

https://www.amazon.com/After-Gold-Rush-Profession- Engineering/dp/0735608776

Often the most serious greivances I've had about work are not how I am treated, but dangerous decisions made when creating products.

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