That escalated quickly. From chilling effect for the sake of the career to torture and killing.
Re:A Year of Tech Solidarity
by soundwave106 on Wednesday November 15, 2017 @11:08AM
(#15704739)
In late 19th to early 20th century in America (and some other places), union membership actually could be a life or death proposition. Back then, violence went so far, particularly around mining industries, at times to literally be called as warfare and battles.
Examples: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Wars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Labor_Wars etc.
At this point in America, push-back against organized labor (or in fact most other activism) doesn't reach this level. In some countries, however, activism of any kind is still potentially on this level of risk.
Re:A Year of Tech Solidarity
by Anticapitalist on Wednesday November 15, 2017 @12:00AM
(#15701578)
Realistically it seems the impediment is perceived loss of comfort from loss of income.
In other countries you have people resisting in the face of totalitarian regimes which brook no dissent under threat of death or torture for activists and their families. Yet people still resist.
As far as I'm aware, we're still far from a state of affairs where joining a union in the US means facing those kinds of risks. Yes, it might affect your career negatively -- but it might also affect it positively, as there are among us people who actually look at union membership as something to be proud of rather than hide.
Yes, there are libertarians and economic conservatives who froth at the mouth at the very mention of a union, but I haven't heard of many of them actually going as far as killing people for joining unions in recent decades.
So what kind of risks are you realistically going to face if you join a union?