A dilbert cartoon years ago had the cubicle workers grow a ‘backbone’ and try to unionize, until Wally says that it is illegal.
Is that true? If so why–and if not, why aren’t more white collar workers unionized? Seems strange because as the economy advances, more and more people are white-collar office workers, and unions will eventually fade away.
Uh, not in California.
Just go work for the state or local government. You’ll find all kind of unions for those flying desks.
(both of my parents are career civil servants, 30+ years of service)
Roger that. My union is the most powerful union in the state, and we’re solidly white collar. Well, except for the PE teachers. Theirs is more grey.
Wally’s probably not the best source for reliable information.
A subset of employees known as supervisors are excluded from the statutory definition of employee, and therfore, unable to be union members. Supervisor in name only: Union rights of eight million workers at stake in Labor Board ruling | Economic Policy Institute
White collar workers can and do unionize:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080702_White-collar_city_union_takes_strike_step.html
Certainly not illegal in the UK. Here’s one white collar union, for civil servants:
https://www.fda.org.uk/Resource.phx/content/public/index.htx
Most white collar Feds have a “union”. It’s rather weak, they can’t usually strike but they can bargain and file a greivance.
I dunno about that – the prison guards seem to be in the driver’s seat these days. The impression I get from my friends & relatives in CA is that the guards’ union pretty much gets whatever they want, while the schools lose funding, and teachers’ pay & benefits stagnate. One of my best friends is a newly-credentialed teacher in LA’s South Bay, and can only get short-term substitute gigs, since all the schools in her area have hiring freezes, with some actually laying off staff.
Sure white collar workers can unionize.
For instance, in one of those odd quirks of union jurisdiction, attorneys employed by New York City agencies belong to the Teamster’s Union (not those in the office of the Corporation Counsel representing the City itself, but those in agencies like the Administration for Children’s Services and the like).
“Usually” can’t strike? Federal employees can’t strike at all (PDF warning). It’s not only illegal under the law, but there are criminal penalties.
Right. This opinion discusses the relevant statutes and cases: AGO Opinions | Washington State (see paragraph 3)
What is the status of TSA employees? Are they still not allowed to even join a union?
Not only can we unionize, we can be forced to if just over half of the staff wants to. Actually…I’ll just leave it at yes we can.