Just because you work in tech doesn't mean you can't get exploited. And just "go somewhere else" isn't possible for everyone.
If I don't like my job, I get another one. It's easier to do this as a software engineer than almost anything else.
Low job supply in your area and inability to move due to family and other responsibilities tying you down or too busy taking care of your kids to have time to interview and study leetcode or too little time spent on a gig getting you labeled as a job hopper or as a problematic employee by other companies if you don't have enough experience backing you up.
I feel you have no idea how complex people's lives can be.
Maybe people other than you have problems you cannot see or understand.
2) I also agree, but that doesn't mean these workers should unionize.
Of course the employees would disagree, that doesn't mean anything about what they deserve to be paid.
Good day.
Ignoring that point, if the employees really are working from somewhere there are NO other tech jobs, then that would be their fault. They took the risk in moving / raising a family in that area relying on a single company to pay them the salaries they want.
The price is slightly below average industry pay. Is that a call to unionize? Nope.
I can't see how it is their fault. Not everyone can afford to live in particular places. You talk about risk, but risk is in fact what is prized - the CEO benefits because they took the risk in starting the company. The CEO is compensated for that risk. Why aren't the employees compensated for their own risk?
>The price is slightly below average industry pay. Is that a call to unionize? Nope.
It can be. Unionization isn't only about salary, it's about maintaining that level of salary, and other benefits. There are many reasons to unionize, which apply to every worker: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22357492
The owner of the company puts as much effort as possible into increasing the duration and intensity of work for a lower wage, providing they maintain the value desired. The worker, likewise, puts as much effort as possible into reducing the duration and intensity of work, and bargaining for a higher wage. Unions make this push and pull more symmetrical.
Looks like someone doesn't own a home or have a family.
Or if you do, perhaps you have adequate savings where that's maybe not a big deal. Or maybe your spouse makes good money also to support for a while. But most people are not lucky enough to be in that situation.
If I live in New York, as Kickstarter is located, what is so difficult about changing jobs if I have a family? Same thing with other tech hubs, you don't need to physically move homes in order to change jobs. What is so hard about it?
Even if you have to move, my family moved 10 or so times in a few years when I was in grade school for new jobs, never seemed to be a huge issue.