Software engineers in historically well-comped roles in the 21st Century: "My commute is exactly like being a 19th Century coal miner in a company town."

It's good to appreciate the privileges that come with being a well-paid 21st Century knowledge worker.

It's also good to appreciate what even a well-paid 21st C knowledge worker has in common with other labor, including coal miners. Solidarity helps achieve goals.

No of course not. I just took issue with the idea presented that an agreement between a corporation and worker is always 'consensual and voluntary'.

It's not. It never has been. If I disagree with the terms of my employment, me being unemployed is a far higher burden than the company not having one extra worker. To act like the employee and employer are equals in negotiation is laughable.

Pretty much the same power balance and probably even worse wealth gap exists in such a socialistic european country like Sweden.

Unions do exist there, however they probably do more harm than good for software engineers because they effectively do not allow raising salaries if needed (any rise in every employment contract needs approval by the union).