A better strategy is to push the conversation in another direction:

- My current comp is X, but that's not what I am worth to you.

- I've done my research, and someone with my experience is worth Y. I expect at least Y.

You set your salary expectations with your opening bid instead of letting them make the opening bid. It's also contingent on you having done your research =)

I cannot dísclose muy current compensation due to an NDA: salaries are company propietary information.

I am unable to dísclose that information.

If you are a non-managerial employee, the NLRA explicitly prohibits your employer from restricting you from discussing your compensation.

And anyway, if you’re not in a state that has banned employers from asking for salary information, the recruiter always has the option of shit-canning your application for being non-responsive.

Its the perfect case for why labor organizes.

Collectively battling this is good, but individually no one wants to because its personally high risk (legal costs, deter future employers hiring you) and low reward (some settlement that won't change your life).

In most unions, you’re physically limited in the amount of salary you can achieve for a given role.

I now make more than 2.5x the highest salary possible for the two unions I was previously associated with; well beyond where my current role is situated. There was absolutely no way to get merit increases, bonuses, or raises above the ~2% annual COL increases. The worst part? EVERYONE, regardless of ability, got the same raises at the same time.

Everyone points to major league sports teams as some sort of relatable collective bargaining unit; but, in reality, the majority of employee unions do not operate like that and do little that’s positive for high performers.

Are you part of a union? How can we get the tech industry unionized?

You need a union like you need a hole in the head. What you really need is BALLS. And self respect.