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Re:A group of Google workers have announced plans to unionize by NamTaf on Monday January 04, 2021 @09:02PM (#25641143)
From TFA:

"Arranged as a members-only union, the new organization won’t seek collective bargaining rights to negotiate a new contract with the company. Instead, the Alphabet Workers Union will only represent employees who voluntarily join, as reported by the New York Times. That structure will also allow it to represent all employees who seek to participate — including temps, vendors, and contractors (known internally as TVCs) who would be excluded by labor law from conventional collective bargaining."

That sounds to me awfully like a voluntary union, though I'm not familiar with the laws allowing unions in various US states to compel non-members to join.

Re:A group of Google workers have announced plans to unionize by s1artibartfast on Monday January 04, 2021 @09:33PM (#25641336)
I was speaking to US unions in general. Your quote matches my understanding of the Alphabet Workers Union as well, which is essentially the same thing as a social club. It provides no legal protections, and Alphabet has legal obligation to recognize them.

That's not to say I don't like like the idea, which I prefer to traditional Unions where participation is forced.

Re:A group of Google workers have announced plans to unionize by selestify on Tuesday January 05, 2021 @11:22PM (#25654643)
That's not true though -- union membership is still legally protected even if a contract isn't negotiated.