There may not be guns pointed at programmers, but there are long hours expectations. The perks you're talking about tech workers being pampered with are there to keep workers there longer. The land wealthy companies have been buying to get cheap housing for employees echo company towns but legal.
I recommend reading books like "Brave New World" to highlight how being 'pampered' doesn't mean you're not in a distopia.
In any case, you don't have to like unions, just understand that tech isn't an exception.