I am a Java Programmer and have read a lot of discussion on here about how we wouldn't need a union since we can "call the shots". So, why would you want to form a union?
Well that's kind of how I thought before my last job. My former employers paid me well but
for this they expected 80hr working weeks, frowned upon us having sick days, meal breaks and even lunch brakes. After this I was reminded that even though the market looks favorably upon my skills at the moment, my employer was free to screw us over as much as they could.
Most of us probably don't have conditions that bad. But I think there are important issues for all technology workers - like quality of work.
As technology workers we don't simply perform a job. We live and breath the industry and take enormous pride in, what is for the most part, highly skilled work. I think as a collective (a union) we should demand things such as, reasonable development life cycles and proper training in new technologies, etc. We are held responsible for software that impacts on people's lives, (I'm working on patient diagnosis software at the moment). With responsibility like that placed on us, we really must demand the right to do our job properly.
How many Tech workers feel that they could do their job better if their employer had a better understanding of technology and what exactly our job entails?. Isn't it our task to make sure they listen? The open source community is a testament to how much we care about our profession. I think forming a collective is a natural extension to what we are already doing.
I am not an amiga user and don't know if I every will be...
But I don't think that lampooning amigans with "It's dead let it go" everytime/. has an article about amiga is that helpful to anyone. (not to mention quite boring)
They aren't saying that we all have to run out and buy an amiga now. It's just an interesting news item about an alternative OS... what's so wrong with that? if your not interested then don't worry about it, if you are then it's nice
to get some up to date information on it.
I personally think it looks interesting, I don't know if it'll take off, but I think it could work if given a chance.
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I am a Java Programmer and have read a lot of discussion on here about how we wouldn't need a union since we can "call the shots". So, why would you want to form a union?
Well that's kind of how I thought before my last job. My former employers paid me well but for this they expected 80hr working weeks, frowned upon us having sick days, meal breaks and even lunch brakes. After this I was reminded that even though the market looks favorably upon my skills at the moment, my employer was free to screw us over as much as they could.
Most of us probably don't have conditions that bad. But I think there are important issues for all technology workers - like quality of work. As technology workers we don't simply perform a job. We live and breath the industry and take enormous pride in, what is for the most part, highly skilled work. I think as a collective (a union) we should demand things such as, reasonable development life cycles and proper training in new technologies, etc. We are held responsible for software that impacts on people's lives, (I'm working on patient diagnosis software at the moment). With responsibility like that placed on us, we really must demand the right to do our job properly.
How many Tech workers feel that they could do their job better if their employer had a better understanding of technology and what exactly our job entails?. Isn't it our task to make sure they listen? The open source community is a testament to how much we care about our profession. I think forming a collective is a natural extension to what we are already doing.
I am not an amiga user and don't know if I every will be...
/. has an article about amiga is that helpful to anyone. (not to mention quite boring)
But I don't think that lampooning amigans with "It's dead let it go" everytime
They aren't saying that we all have to run out and buy an amiga now. It's just an interesting news item about an alternative OS... what's so wrong with that? if your not interested then don't worry about it, if you are then it's nice to get some up to date information on it.
I personally think it looks interesting, I don't know if it'll take off, but I think it could work if given a chance.