A recent article by Ashley Heher about a labor union for bloggers caught my attention, mostly because someone emailed me the link. The idea isn’t a bad one, in my opinion. The rights of freelance writers and bloggers are walked all over every day, and a labor union for bloggers might change that. People treat us like artists, not professionals. Low pay and no pay are common, and there isn’t much respect involved in the job. If you want recognition for your career choice, don’t be a writer.
A labor union for bloggers could help establish better working conditions and set reasonable wages for the job. Unionized bloggers would gain a better reputation for their profession. They could obtain some form of health insurance and have collective agreements. There would be set standards and job descriptions. It’s all good.
The notion of a labor union for bloggers interests me for other reasons than personal gain, though. I was a labor union representative for a group of administrative office employees for over five years and participated in negotiations for three collective agreements. I helped settle grievances and improved workplace conditions. I was involved in salary adjustments for the better and the creation of new positions.
I had a blast as a union rep, too. I love negotiating. I love finding the best middle ground that offers compromise for all without penalizing any group more than another. I especially enjoy working out issues and problems to come to solutions that satisfies everyone. To me, being a union representative was all about finding the middle ground and making the workplace more pleasant for all people.
I’ve been on the other side of the coin, too. I’ve been in management and supervisory positions. I’m currently an employer. I know what it’s like to be the leader and to deal with the problems that come with the job. I can see the issues that might arise from a labor union for bloggers: higher rates for clients, a black market trade, lessened control, heightened frustrations and restrictions.
There is already a National Writer’s Union. I have to admit, I’m unfamiliar with what they do and offer. I’m not a member, and I’ve never seen their website before. (They should brush up on their SEO. Their site is ugly and hard to read, too). I’ll be looking into their information, as they probably have a ton of good stuff. The site will help me decide whether I think a labor union for bloggers to be something I support or just watch for movement with interest.
For the moment, I think that applying any union to the virtual world is going to be hell on wheels to hammer out and even harder to maintain. There is so much going on behind what meets the eye on the Internet that controlling anything is almost impossible.
Hey, even the government can’t keep up with technology. How is a labor union for bloggers going to manage?
