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Subject:Re: National Writer's Union (way too long) From:"Sella Rush" <sellar -at- mail -dot- apptechsys -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 3 Jul 2000 18:56:46 -0700
> In the end, "The Workers Organizations" have been killed by the workers
> themselves.
No, not killed. Just ignored while times are on the side of the workers.
A good job market is doing for us what a union would do in leaner
times--it's making employers listen to what their employees want. Once the
market dips the other way and employers don't have to work so hard to find
people, they'll stop throwing offices and Friday afternoon parties and stock
at us, not to mention good salaries. And that's when we need a union--to
get employers to listen when they think they don't have to.
On the other hand, even these days a union can serve a valuable purpose.
The NY Times case comes to mind. In this 21st century, plenty of givens are
changing and advantage goes to the side that recognizes and acts on
opportunities. It used to be that a writer owned his/her work and could
sell publications rights in several accepted ways (one-time publication,
etc.). But online publishing changed that. Suddenly publication could be
carved up any number of new ways. Newspapers and publishers who decided
that buying rights for a print publication also included online publication
ad infinitum (or whatever), weren't exactly aiming for fairness. If it
hadn't been for a couple of reporters *and* a union, writers would have lost
a significant source of revenue, and publishers would have saved a hell of a
lot of money, not to mention a significant advantage on the future.
It may be the 21st century, but all we're seeing is that the more things
change, the more they stay the same.
We need organizations that help us think bigger and farther ahead than most
of us do as individuals. Companies recognize the value of long-term
planning and spend a lot of money on it. And it's certainly not to make
sure their employees maintain their standard of living.
Sella Rush mailto:sellar -at- apptechsys -dot- com
Applied Technical Systems (ATS)
Silverdale, Washington
Developers of the CCM Database
Demo: www.apptechsys.com/demo
