Re: Unionizing?
I am often amazed at how visceral the reaction is to the idea of a union
for white-collar employees. Are we inherently superior? Do we fear the
loss of our individual independence? Do we feel that, individually, we
can negotiate so much a better compensation package than any (or most)
others in our field?
I sometimes wonder if people simply don't want to realize their situations.
When I was in high school, a teacher asked my class to visualize what would happen in the next few decades. Disasters of all sorts were predicted. Then the teacher asked class members what would happen in their lives in the next few decades. All the usual dreams of marriage and success were given. Apparently, all these personal accomplishments were to take place at the same time that the world collapsed.
In the same way, I think that, when people talk about unions, they never envision a situation in which they might need one themselves. Diasters and unfair practices are events that happen to other people, not them. If they have been laid off or discriminated against, they tend to dismiss events as a one-time run of bad luck, rather than wonder if what happened is part of a trend or even systemic.
Then again, there's a similar reaction to the mention of the STC, too.
As if the organization is not of its members, but is some vague group
above and beyond that attempts to pontificate to the minions below.
In my case, one of the many reasons I have no time for the STC is that it doesn't even act like a professional association, let alone a union.
--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604.421.7177
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield
"You need technique to make a good job of life."
- Joyce Carey, "The Horse's Mouth"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out SnagIt - The Screen Capture Standard!
Download a free 30-day trial from http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/txt/twr
Find out what all the other tech writers, including Dan, already know!
Order RoboHelp X3 in December and receive $100 mail in rebate, FREE WebHelp
Merge Module and the new RoboPDF - add powerful PDF output functionality
to RoboHelp X3. Order online today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
References:
RE: Unionizing?: From: Donald H. White
Previous by Author:
Re: A sobering encounter (So now what?)
Next by Author:
Re: Who hires technical writers?
Previous by Thread:
RE: Unionizing?
Next by Thread:
Re: A sobering encounter (So now what?)
Search our Technical Writing Archives & Magazine
Visit TechWhirl's Other Sites
Sponsored Ads