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Comment by thebradbain | Hacker News Reader

WGA is just one of many unions, but you’re right— getting into the “best” guilds is itself a process; but ostensibly, it’s to ensure that the guild keeps its prestige as a genuine body of talent. It’s a balancing act for sure, and I don’t know if tech wants to emulate everything exactly with the Hollywood guild system, but it’s worth taking inspiration from.

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Would you trust unions over markets to determine which programmers are skilled? How would they determine that?

Traditional guilds fostered apprenticeship, mentorship and relationships between practitioners that transcend firms/projects.

Given that “the market” seems to have settled on LC as the only measure of skill I don’t think it’s far fetched to imagine that a guild system could be better.

> Given that “the market” seems to have settled on LC as the only measure of skill

That’s not true and I suspect you know it.

I'm not sure what you mean.

It’s a fine line, but I don’t see anyone saying the members of the Hollywood guild aren’t talented— it’s a (perhaps already too hard) battle just to get in it.

However, just because you’re in the guild does not mean you have a job. Productions still have to hire and choose to work with you. Generally, if you don’t get work within sometime between 1-2 years you lose membership.

If you’re not “skilled enough” for the minimum floor pay, then the studio or show has no obligation to hire you. Don’t see why that model can’t work for tech?

The unions don't decide who gets hired for a project, only the set of terms should you hire someone from the union.

But crucially, they also decide who is in the union.

Probably in the same way that companies go about determining it now: programming tests, certifications, diplomas, etc.

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