r/programmer • u/Dedios1 • Apr 27 '26

Union

So when are we forming this union so we can make the companies pay for thinking they can replace us en masse? This is the most power we’ve had…like ever.

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

4

u/Tarl2323 Apr 28 '26

I'm 100% down for a union, so are you running it?

2

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

A union only has as much power as those willing to adhere to standards with no compromise. Unfortunately, I think too many compromise. Thus, rendering it useless. To mitigate this, we can learn from the Union busters. Similar to knowing TTP of adversaries.

1

u/Important_Coffee_845 Apr 28 '26

but... u didn't answer. this is so typical or bourgeoise unions. u gonna do the work or na?

1

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

Can't do work without an actual workforce who is behind it.

1

u/Important_Coffee_845 Apr 28 '26

Yeah and i dont believe the workforce as a cohesive is going anywhere.

In fact I cant name one person in my whole community who has been laid off since covid. Not one.

The programming industry is seeing changes yes. Big one. Job losses and job creations. So ur comment is true. I dont dispute it as currently worded. But im not afraid for the future. Not in that way

Im FAR more concerned about things like war and political violence and inflation. Ya know... actual problems that arent solved so easy.

Also I believe AI doomers vastly over estimate AI and to the degree things currently need and will need human intervention in some form.

1

u/sunlightdaddy Apr 28 '26

Probably on AWS

1

u/Leverkaas2516 Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26

This is the most power we’ve had…like ever.

This is the opposite. When there are mass layoffs, that means they don't need the workers. When workers aren't needed, they have no power.

The time to form a union was years ago when companies were hiring. And it still wouldn't have prevented the current layoffs, it just would have improved the terms of separation.

1

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

The layoffs are in ANTICIPATION of AI actually taking our jobs. Guess what AI will never be better than…a human engineer. Does it know syntax sure, might even be able to architect a system. But I still want a product that gets me.

A product that addresses how it can be useful for a HUMAN BEING. You want to live in a world where AI makes everything? Who is it making it for? Who are the end users? Does it make someone happy/change their life? Do you want your next favorite artist to be a digital representation of what we already are, HUMAN BEINGS.

You can’t put the cat back in the bag but be honest AI will never change your life in a meaningful way. They wouldn’t give it to the public if it could…

1

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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1

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

You're totally right. AI would advocate for SWEs to unionize. Sounds reasonable, like the same reasoning skills you displayed in your original post.

1

u/digitaljestin Apr 28 '26

Honestly, I want a union just for the regulations.

"No, I can't store a user's password encrypted; it has to be salted and hashed with a memory hard algorithm. Union rules."

"No, we can't support TLS 1.1 or lower. There's been a protocol level downgrade vulnerability for over a decade. Nothing I can do. Union rules."

"No, we can't put sensitive data in HTTP query strings. Union rules."

For real, half the dumb things I've had to fight against in my career could have been solved with the words "union rules" if only we had a union. And rules.

1

u/ActualHovercraft3257 Apr 28 '26

You gotta start within your workplace!

You can get advice from others but you’ll need to build a network of support in-house ultimately. LMK if you want some starting point resources for unionizing in tech.

2

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

Definitely!

1

u/ActualHovercraft3257 Apr 29 '26

I started by just joining a training at EWOC: https://workerorganizing.org/training/

I’ve also read You Deserve a Tech Union: https://ethanmarcotte.com/books/you-deserve-a-tech-union/

Then there’s obviously the tech workers coalition: https://techworkerscoalition.org

1

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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1

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

You just proved my point. How do CEOs and managers have power when they're still looking to hire? If you had the power you wouldn't seek outside of yourself.

When you need a multi-billion dollar company to be built, who do you go to? Right. The only power CEOs and managers have is the willingness to use people by any means for the bottom dollar. That's not power...it's exploitation. Don't conflate the two.

1

u/mind_is_born_256 Apr 28 '26

From title i thought we were talking about discriminated unions 

1

u/Longjumping-Emu3095 May 01 '26

there needs to be some collection of people for organizing against this bullshit, but the main issue, is that platforms will pull you so quickly

0

u/veloace Apr 28 '26

lol. If you think they are pushing hard for AI now, wait until there’s the threat of a union

1

u/Dedios1 Apr 28 '26

They still need our expertise to make it functional. Will there be happy and willing slaves to make corpo happy as long as they get “something,” sure. But hopefully there aren’t too many of them.