Not quite, this is what themselves say about the structure:

> A direct-join union means that UVW-CWA does not represent a single workplace, but rather, anyone in the video game industry. This differs from other union models, which organize workers in a single company or even a specific department or office. This means UVW-CWA seeks to make change directly through worker power and public leverage against the companies of our industry without the limitations of traditional labor law and collective bargaining rights.

> Historically, workers in the U.S. and Canada organized their unions this way until their efforts resulted in the codified labor law we know today in the United States. Other countries also utilize direct-join unionism! [...] By being direct-join, UVW-CWA is able to grow more easily, have a wider base of membership, and is not limited to the constraints of the certification process.

https://uvw-cwa.org/faq

So while it's true it doesn't have the typical benefits of another form of union, it doesn't seem useless at all. Biggest benefit is that exploited people get used to organizing together for a common cause, this will have a far wider impact than just in the video game industry.

Because nothing terrifies corporate executives more than a loosely organized group of scattered workers with no legal standing, no collective bargaining rights, and no strike protections. Truly, the next great labor revolution will be built on the unshakable foundation of good vibes and a mailing list. In practice, I don’t think things will be that easy.

You are offering undiscerning nihilism. It’s both false and unhelpful.

Maybe you just needed to vent, I get that. But I must say, HN comments aren’t the always the best place for venting.

They offered a number of good points, it doesn’t seem like undiscerning nihilism to me.

Unhelpful I can see, but how is it in any way false what I said?

You are saying that what they are doing is completely useless. Plenty of other comments have explained how it isn’t.

The very first unions were exactly like that, and they terrified corporate executives enough to attempt to violently suppress them.

And then, despite said suppression, they still managed to win legal standing, collective bargaining rights, strike protections etc.

Collective lobbying and PR has plenty of power, which is why companies do it so much.