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Comment by linuxhansl | Hacker News Reader

Being born in Europe I always was a huge fan of unions, as agents to level the balance of power between employers and employees. The unions negotiate pay rates, safety procedures, benefits, etc, etc, and have the financial means to back the negotiations with strikes.

After coming to US I became less enthusiastic. Unions seem to frequently go overboard. For example only union workers being allowed to plug power cords into the outlets at trade-shows - at great cost - and similar shenanigans that basically seem to only increase cost and reduce productivity.

Some of the resentment against unions is self-inflicted. Perhaps that was and is historically needed here in the US...?

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> For example only union workers being allowed to plug power cords into the outlets at trade-shows - at great cost - and similar shenanigans that basically seem to only increase cost and reduce productivity.

The fee for the electrician union member includes an inspection component, and imho it’s worth it.

This fee may sound unreasonable until you hear the story about some dipshit with huge power requirements and/or a daisy-chained nightmare plug their stuff in and cause problems for everyone — in a worst case scenario, cause a fire.

Source: a friend of mine who is an electrician who explained this to me.

Your idea that unions go overboard in the US may hold water, but I don’t think that this example is the poster child.

All of the risks you just described exists in every home with electrical outlets.

Except the risks are multiplied by 200 (or by however many "display booths" there are).

You make a good point, but I read the GP differently. I’ve also experienced where engineers are threatened with a union grievance for similar actions. It’s not just a case of a union protecting against a non-skilled install, it’s often about a union protecting its own self interests

That's what I meant, but I agree with GP, that perhaps that wasn't the best example.

I heard a 1st hand story from someone who was dangled over an open elevator shaft in NYC for plugging in a PC against union rules. Was that part of the inspection component?

> For example only union workers being allowed to plug power cords into the outlets at trade-shows

The actual requirement from the trade-show venue was likely for a "licensed electrician" -- and was likely added for safety reasons to prevent the possibility of fires from the general attendees creating a nasty mess of interconnected power splitters.

That is possible. And I'll readily admit that my direct sample set is small, so it's mostly from what I read. I have some friends who do escalator construction and they mentioned similar issues. Again, small sample set.

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