News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich. Parent comment

Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by kick on Monday October 21, 2019 @03:42PM (#21316389)
Eight days ago on Hacker News:

Yup. Happened to me. Big corporate decided most of our floor were surplus to requirements. Got an email on Sunday telling us to be in early on Monday for an off-site meeting.

Got handed my redundancy / compromise agreement and told not to return to the office. And, the kicker, told my non-compete meant I couldn't work for a competitor during the redundancy process.

It was devastating and emotionally wrecking. It was like being dumped, out of the blue, from a multi-year relationship. And being told you couldn't see anyone else. I went through all the classic stages of grief.

And then...

I contacted my Trade Union and explained the situation. They took a look at the contract I'd been given, passed it to a very expensive lawyer, who made a couple of phone calls.

The next week I was free to work for whoever I wanted and was paid ~7 months salary (tax free).

Join. A. Union.

Your employer has more lawyers than you do. Pay a couple of quid per month to have decent legal representation on hand when you need it.

That layoff was the best thing to happen to me. Shook me out of my cosy job, forced me into building my own consultancy, and taught me the power of solidarity.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21242176

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by tastythrowaway on Monday October 21, 2019 @03:52PM (#21316498)
thank you for posting this. it's a point worth realizing.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by kodablah on Monday October 21, 2019 @03:53PM (#21316518)
> That layoff was the best thing to happen to me. Shook me out of my cosy job, forced me into building my own consultancy, and taught me the power of solidarity.

This last part sounds like an argument against unions. One wonders, had the commenter worked in an environment where layoffs/firings aren't worth it due to externalities (and therefore never really happen), whether they'd rethink.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by kick on Monday October 21, 2019 @04:00PM (#21316601)
That last part sounds like an argument for. If not for the benefits he got from the union, the very last claim wouldn't have happened, and the second to last claim might not have been possible.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by moate on Monday October 21, 2019 @04:02PM (#21316622)
Just trying to understand: you think that somehow unions make it EASIER to layoff/fire someone? That management would somehow assume it's easier/less costly to fire people when they know those people will have a lawyer review the terms of their termination? That management would be less inclined to attempt including illegal non-competes?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by kodablah on Monday October 21, 2019 @04:09PM (#21316712)
No, sorry, I was too succinct. I am saying externalities like unions make it HARDER. Therefore the commenter might never have been laid off in a heavily unionized employment situation. Not arguing explicitly for or against, just mentioning that in situations where it is difficult to layoff/fire employees, it is not always a good thing (peer complacency, bloat, etc). Those that have worked in those situations often wish the protections were fewer, which is why I wondered if the commenter would rethink.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Z... by moate on Wednesday October 23, 2019 @01:32PM (#21336860)
He worked for a company with a union, and was still fired. I still don't understand your point here. Yes, he says the layoff had benefits, but that seemed more like a "silver lining" than a "I'm glad things happened this way".

IDK, I'm either reading his statement or yours in a way someone isn't intending.

Also, people who work in non-union jobs often feel that peer complacency and bloat are problems. That's not unique to union shops. Everyone has had a job where there was "that guy" that nobody understood how he kept his job. IDK why people thing unions magically create this problem, or make it worse. Mostly because I haven't seen any studies proving it, it's just a "feeling" people have.

[ Parent | on HN ]