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48 Comments
thanks for your article.
thanks for its article..
thanks for its article.. very helpful.. :)
Union for Writers/Entertainers
I was just talking about this in a conversation the other day. I totally think that there should be unionization, benefits and protection to the working class not recognized in the traditional union world.
I'm in support!
Thank you
Bloggers unionizing.
Generally speaking, Im' not supportive of unions.
However, I do believe trade unions served a useful social function when they first arose as a response to those I feel were robber barons, not the industrial statesman they postered as.
And I do feel bloggers need to take steps to portect themselves, as I don't believe they are any better off here in the early 21st century than ordinary tadespeople were in the late 19th century.
I will openly state a strong prejudice. I'm an American resident in Thailand and run a website about the country, on which I do a weekly column. However, due to the stringent libel laws here, under which I can be bith civilly and criminally prosecuted even for merely repeating, for example, published/broadcast news reports, I have to exercise strict self-censorship. Not that I have a big readership or any genuine influence, but I do err on the side of caution -- under legal advice from my local attorney.
The atmosphere in the U.S., my dearly beloved homeland, is absolutely poisonous to public commentators generally, so I won't blame bloggers in the slightest if they do decide to organize.
Sincerely,
Mekhong Kurt, Webmaster
http://BangkokAtoZ.com, Bangkok's Voice On The Web
Bloggers Need a Union
Yes, bloggers need a union. ESL teachers need a union, too.
unionize are you crazy
The internet was build on the fact that it was free to voice your ideas and to share with people all over the world. People of all ages use the internet to find answer to question that they have. And you want to destory this by unionizing, are you crazy. Destory the inertnet for greed I quess is the humans way.
Quite the hot topic
Unionize? I imagined when I saw the title that this would be a hot topic with opinions from all side. After reading the article and the various comments it seems I was correct in my thinking.
I don't mean to walk the fence on this one but there are really good points from both side being voiced. From a realistic viewpoint though I don't see a "single" union being very productive. The global nature and ease of producing a blog make this seem unlikely. I could see guilds or associations making a better impact. While I'm all for structure and ethical behavior I would be afraid of wings being clipped and independent thought discourage to one degree or another. In my experience those that start the group want it run their way and are not agreeable to much change from their initial vision.
I guess we'll all have to see how this shakes out in the end.....
Bloggers unionizing
Absolute nonsense. Unless bloggers intend to create a policing system for who can join the union, it will only become a source for the less professional who are guilty of defamation or misinformation to hide behind the legitimate practitioners of professional journalism.
I recently won a defamation and libel suit in court against a "Blogger." Although we proved in court he intentionally fabricated libelous articles about me, to this day he insists it was his right to do so as a blogger. If this is what your union will be made up from, it's not going to fly. Unions are made up of tradesmen with approved skills not available among the general public, and bloggers have no
policing methods for such skills. Such a union would become a shieled for the journalistically incompetent and those who seek to do harm. It could however become a nice business for soomeone who collected dues under the guise of preserving professionalism. Despite thier claims, bloggers are not journalists.
Bloggers unionize
Do we really need a union of nitwits, whose only qualification is that they own a computer and can connect to the Internet? What do they produce and who are they going to strike against? Indentured servitude and tenant farming, they are are not being forced to produce or is anyone forced to read their drivel.
Blog Union?
Bloggers don't produce a tangible product. Just hot air. Or should I say, hot html.
a note on union bloggers.
In my opinion NO there is not a need for a blogging union. If blogging is a Profession then these professionals should already have all the Knowledge and Tools needed to generate their Own Incomes. In which will and/or does provide any Necessary Benefits.
BLOGGER'S UNION?
What a Thought! And What Next?
Wonder if anyone's come up with 'A Union for Clergymen'. Here's one they should try - 'A Union for Terrorists'! Let's see how that would work - LOL!
unions
I don't know if we need unions but we need laws to protect authors. When books are resold and then sold again and again, authors aren't paid for the extra reads. And that is hurting the entire publishing industry as well as authors. In other countries when a book is resold, a small amount is collected and paid to the author. We need to do this in the US.
Let me guess...
You aren't a real big fan of libraries.
What laws do authors need beyond copyright?
Can you put a price on the promotional value of lending someone a book and leading them to being a fan of future works by the author?
Should William Gibson pay me every time I recommend Idoru to someone, and that person goes out and buys Spook Country after reading Idoru?
I'm all for authors being paid but let's not turn the print publishing industry into the fan-despising music business.
bloggers' union
Yes, I think it is a good way of supporting the blogging community if bloggers have some sort of a union group. I am in favor of forming a union group among bloggers but please make the objectives of the organization clear to all members as well as the benefits they can get from membership.
http://www.offbeatmom.blogspot.com
http://www.speak4money.blogspot.com
http://www.coolkidsparty.blogspot.com
http://www.everydaywear.blogspot.com
Rarity
I am not a pro blogger. I
I am not a pro blogger. I use blogging as a way to build my coaching, consulting and speaking business. Therefore, I am not interested in a bloggers union.
However, I find the idea of freelance unions in general to somewhat oxymoronic. I am in business for myself because I am an independent spirit. My assumption (and I know assumptions are dangerous things) is that most people who want to be self employed would not want to associate with a union.
I realize that a pro blogger union may be able to set minimum wage levels and provide things like health benefits. However, I believe I can always command more than the minimum compensation. As for health insurance, I have found that there is no shortage of affinity groups -- alumni associations and the like -- where one can secure pretty good coverage.
Having said all that, I come from a strong union family. I'm a liberal democrat, and I wish anyone who attempts to organize a pro blogger union the best of luck.
Bud Bilanich
The Common Sense Guy
www.CommonSenseGuy.com (blog)
That's just silly.
Blogging is supposed to just be people writing about the things that inspire them in whatever way they do. At its soul, blogging is an anarchistic expression of free-form thought.
Unions bring regulation and control. I suppose down the line only "Union" bloggers will be able to spout off on the major blog sites, right? And is this really an industry that has evolved to the point where it requires a union?
If you don't like what a blog publisher is paying you, start your own site, pay to market it, and keep 100%. Don't get me wrong. My mother was a union president for 14 years, and my father a union steward for 8 years before he made management in a gov't agency. But there's a time and a place for everything. Unions are not appropriate in all cases. Example: The Screen Actors Guild would single-handedly kill off indie film production if it had it's way. It has backed off a bit in recent years, but SAG has really put the screws to some undeserving people.
Another Example: I bagged groceries when I was in High School. Made $4.50/hour at the time, and worked about 20 hours/week. It was union shop, as are most grocery stores. I was a part-time employee, ineligible for any benefits, and I paid about 25% of my pay in dues to a union that never did anything for me, nor ever intended to. I just got to pay dues. Oh, boy.
The freedom to express ourselves any way we want to millions of potential readers is a freedom and a privilege. And bloggers, if your writing is really that good, you'll get paid for it. Just get off your ass and actually PUBLISH something!
Bloggers and Other Writers Should Unionize
Bloggers and Other Writers Should Unionize
The benefits of unionization are frequent subjects for many Democratic, progressive and other reform-oriented Internet writers. Unfortunately, many of these writers are unaware that an excellent union is available for freelance writers like them to join. This union is the National Writers Union which is Local 1981 of the United Auto Workers.
The National Writers Union (NWU) represents freelance writers of many types. They represent freelance journalists, book authors, and technical writers among others.
The benefits of joining this enlightened union are numerous. The NWU operates a jobs hotline. It can help with contract negotiation and copyright issues of all kinds. The National Writers Union is a strong defender of free expression.
Membership education is an important benefit. Members are able to increase their skill level thanks to workshops and other programs of the National Writers Union. The professional networking aspect of NWU membership is very important. The union has local chapters in many parts of the nation along with at-large memberships.
Under the leadership of NWU President Gerard Colby, the union is actively reaching out to new members and expanding both member benefits and advocacy for independent writers. This writer highly recommends visiting the National Writers Union website to learn more about the union and/or to join.
I have been a member of the National Writers Union for a couple of years. It has been a very positive experience. I personally recommend the union based on my personal experience. Every blogger should seriously consider membership if they take their writing seriously. Anyone even considering writing a book should start with joining the NWU. Personally, I believe in this organization.
Union membership in general is a very positive and rewarding experience. My father has been a United Auto Workers, Local 1183 member for almost 50 years. I was briefly a member of that UAW local in my youth.
I tried to help the IAM (Machinists) unionize a General Electric appliance warehouse in Perryville, Maryland. Because the current unionization election process is grossly unfair, the effort was not successful. I remain a huge fan of the Fighting Machinists and recommend them highly. Anyone interested in the “grossly unfair” nature of the unionization election process should read my Employee Free Choice Act and Republican Disinformation column.
I am a new member of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) with my job at American Income Life Insurance. The company is both an all union operation and an amazing place to work.
Recently, I was able to become an associate member of the United Steelworkers (USW) at a very reasonable rate. This makes my third current union membership.
My only regret is that I cannot be a member of even more labor unions. I hope readers like you will join my other brothers and sisters in the organized labor movement, today!
Written By Stephen Crockett
bloggers unionizing
unionize for what purpose? demand benefits from whom? Bloggers are independents! If they demand benefits they will be demanding from themselves. This is a most ill thought out question. If the blogger is being paid by some company to blog, they are not really a blogger, they are a PR divison. As a PR department, perhaps they should demand benefits. As an independent, the question is moot.
This is a REALLY BAD idea
Having lived on both sides of this argument, having been a steelworker, an employer and a corporate executive reliant to a certain degree on union labor, I think I can safely say that I have objective experience in the matter of unions.
If we were in the 1800's and if employees had little choice of where to earn their keep and if a trade (blogging in this case) had a limited number of employers to choose from and if those employers were known for being Robber Barons then I think the idea of a union would make a lot of sense... However the year isn't 1850, I prefer to work and live by my own rules and set of standards and I don't need a union negotiating my life for me.
The matter is quite simple, if you are a hack blogger (and the vast majority of bloggers are hacks, with little or no credentials to lend credence to their writing) then the chances are small that you will ever make enough money to support yourself, let alone make the big bucks by writing a blog. Maybe you think you deserve to be paid well for your blog output but thinking and truly deserving are two different matters. On the other hand, if you are truly a gifted writer whom has the insight and ability to write about subjects that people really want to read about the money will find you.
The poster who mentioned something about those having a "unionized mentality" was dead on, you don't need anyone limiting your options, unless of course you prefer to be led around by the nose. We have enough lawyers and litigation in our society already, you'd be a fool to invite even more into the mix.
So quit whining, write good content and write something original and quit worrying about unions, you don't need a mutual back slapping club to whine about how the man has got you under his thumb, you can do that right now... If you want to be under the mans thumb then you should join a union!
Lastly, think about what those Blog Employers are doing with the content you write for them for pennies an hour... If you haven't figured it out yet then maybe we should talk, I have a bridge in Manhattan that I'd like to sell you... DO you really think that millions of bloggers are going to make a significant income simply by typing a few words onto a blog page? Start charging people to read your blogs and see how many pay, because that is where a union will lead you too... If you really believe we need a Bloggers Union then like I said earlier lets talk about that Bridge friend!
Where's the picket line?
Jason,
The history of unionized power brokering has been fraught with abused ideals. Quite frankly union’s have played their course and are as much a part of US history as civil rights demonstrations.
The fact is, the only power that a union possesses is by holding hostage the services of ALL it’s constituents until the buyers of those services agree to concessions. As long as a few constituents continue to provide services, the power block is negated.
Also, blogs are a non-compulsory form of service, meaning that it is hardly imaginable that the Feds will force blog readers to accept bloggers demands. No one is going to find themselves unconvinced by not being able to travel, work, or conduct daily living because a blogs suddenly disappears/
If bloggers find this hard to accept, perhaps they should try to imagine forming a picket line. Does anyone know how to picket on the internet without spamming? Would it really matter anyway? My guess is people would just change channels (rss feed).
labour comments
You may say you are pro-labour but you sure don't know anything about it. Try talking to your family and then do some fact checking. You may want to add your corrections at a later date.
Fact correction: Employers pay the funds for benefits and the union administers them for their members.
Fact correction: The only restriction which would be incorporated into a collective agreement would have to be bargained in and ratified by the members of the union or bloggers in this case.
There are many more, but you should probably take the time to do some research and learn.
Corporate abuse exposing unfair labor practices
Summary
This Website: corporate-misconduct.com is designed to inform the viewer and listener the time has come to see the world as it is regarding matters of grave importance concerning corporate abuse and unfair labor practices. The Company’s union did not represent this employee as they should have. This union accepts and tolerates inappropriate behavior in the mistreatment of individuals or employees whose rights have no place in one corporate industry.
News Tip:
Evidence of audio tracks secretly recorded during grievance proceedings at UPS Denver, CO. regarding drivers continuous ongoing-payroll problems, and was accused of an allegation having no merit to these accusations was discriminated, harassed and abused during these proceedings as Teamsters local union 435 stood by and allowed this abusive behavior from the company (UPS) to continue. We invite you to please review this website: www.corporate-misconduct.com in order to understand the severity and ongoing occurrences of abusive behavior and discrimination in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Please publish this article based upon evidence: revealing and exposing embezzlement of money illegally taken out from the backside of this driver's weekly payroll checks, and the results in the outcome and fate of this employee (driver) during his employment with UPS have filed a wage claim with the Department of Labor, and filed charges with the (NLRB) National Labor Relations Board against local 435 who did not represent and protect this driver during his employment with UPS. The employee (driver) had filed continuous grievances over the same issues relating to his nightmare on-going- payroll problems, and article 37 harassment concerns exposing abusive behavior, and discrimination with limited solutions, and no results from teamster’s local union 435. UPS retaliated against the driver in filing grievances and charges related to the issues at hand. Then the driver was terminated for an accident he had with the company vehicle because he was like a thorn in the company’s side. Note: He informed the customer his van slid into their fence due to wet weather conditions. The customer called UPS to inform them their driver slid into there fence. Other employees with UPS have experienced a similar fate; set-up by the union then UPS terminated them for unjust cause. Still today UPS employee’s are being mistreated and abused by bigotry and discrimination at various levels evoking grave concerns. Note: See (Evidence) News page & Resources page of website: corporate-misconduct.com Open link: Letter Addressed: District Manager United Parcel Service from Colo. House Of Representatives 4-29-97 Please respond or forward this email to the appropriate investigative News I-team who will assist and help expose these allegations regarding the Teamsters, Local 435, and UPS who continues to get away with hell! Note: Detailed facts of Evidence: Synopsis, documents, letters from government agencies, witnesses, audio tracks and transcripts can be obtained through website: corporate-misconduct.com exposing union corruption, and corporate misconduct: Inappropriate behavior, labor abuse and discrimination at various levels of employment with UPS. Please review Summary page, News page and Resources page from website: corporate-misconduct.com. Your response to this news article would be appreciative. You may contact us and leave a voicemail message @ (720) 246-7496 and Email comments to: cccbms@netscape.net or nadog12@corporate-misconduct.com
corporate-misconduct.com now can be viewed @ Published websites listed:
1. View: Website Evidence (Links) Transcripts PDF, Audio Tracks & Synopsis
@ http://www.phillyimc.org/en/2007/05/39095.shtml
2. http://www.google.com/search?h1...
3. http://www.indymedia.org/en/2007/03/882355.shtml
1.
Attention: Viewers
I am forwarding two emails & voicemail message sent to me regarding the issues concerning UPS and the Teamsters. The individuals who send me this email viewed the website: www.corporate-misconduct.com both are Ex- employees with UPS. I feel there testimonies will support the serious allegations existing at UPS and abroad. Please consider the serious allegations from these individuals: Bettina Beck bettinabeck@westelcom.com & Janesse Bradley www@megawebservers.com
Thank, You
Evidence of Allegations 3 pages
Date & time of email sent to me posted below:
From: "Bettina Beck"
To: nadog12@corporate-misconduct.com
Subject: UPS's disrespect
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 08:57:19 -0500
HTML Attachment [Scan and Save to Computer| Save to Yahoo! Briefcase]
Hello
I have been "battling" a reoccurring issue with UPS. I am on my own with this since I have chosen NOT to get help from the Teamsters - who seem to be "hanging" with management and not supporting their Members.
I am actually trying to get an interview with CEO Mike Escow (I know - it's a grand ambition) to find out what he thinks about Management Disrespect and what he WILL do.
Hope I can either talk to you on the phone or communicate via this medium in order to put a STOP to this seemingly common issue at UPS.
I have contacted The Human Rights Organization a few years ago because UPS discriminated against me and because their managers conduct. Naturally I am on UPS's S*it-list and I am often worried about my safety, but I really want to put a stop to UPS's incompetent behavior.
Thanks for posting your info.
Sincerely,
Bettina
2.
Email
Printable Version
Flag this message.
From: "Bettina Beck" [Save Address] [Block Sender] [Report Spam]
To:
CC:
Subject: No attachment found
Date: Thursday, March 08, 2007 7:10:49 AM Thu, 8 Mar 2007 09:10:49 -0500
________________________________________
Show Full Headers
Previous | Next
________________________________________
Hello:
I am trying to find that attachment that you mentioned - the letter fro9m the House Representative.
If you can attach it to your reply. THAT would be nice.
Sincerely,
Bettina
3.
This message is not flagged.
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 13:26:49 -0400
From: www@megawebservers.com
To: nadog12@yahoo.com
Subject: EasySiteWizard FORM (http://www.corporate-misconduct.com/page5.html)
Full Name = janesse Bradley
Email From = fractalspiral@gmail.com
Subject = unjust termination, related illegal activities, union no
Help... UPS, Mesquite Hub
My Comment = I severely need help.... My spouse (who is still employed
By UPS) and I came across information/evidence of a theft ring in the
(Mesquite, TX) Hub. I was unjustly terminated, and I have proof that
Illegal use of my employee Id was used for the actions I was fired for.
The union wont help me, and after reporting all knowledge to HR and
Security, have not been taken seriously or helped in any way by UPS or the
Union (767). There are developing threats to our safety, as well, and we
Critically need help... can't browse site, email Janesse Bradley
fractalspiral@gmail.com
Xsubmit = Submit Query
=
----------------------------------------
[IP: 76.184.98.187]
Evidence: Email sent to me regarding in-coming voicemail message left on my Private Phone number
Your Private Phone number 720-246-7496 (MEMBER ID: misconduct912) has received a voicemail on 05/12/07 at 05:38 PM from Ex-UPS employee. See audio voicemail attachment: 1. voicemail message left on 07May12_1738 (from janesse bradley) ex-employee with UPS.
Voicemail message 1. Click icon > or right click mouse over icon then high-light > “Sound Recorder Document Object” > click (Play) to listen to audios
----------------------------------------
wow
This is an awesome discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of unions and I commend all of you (well, most of you) for your thoughtful responses.
I just want to make a couple of points.
We can talk about globalization as an inevitability, but I don't think we can blame unions for American jobs going overseas. We can look at things like NAFTA, but mostly we can look at American corporations who show no loyalty to their home country and actively seek loopholes in order to not hire American workers. We can look at the Wal-Marts out there that, after driving out smaller outfits, and thus decent paying jobs, from local communities, say that a 28-hour work week is full time so they don't have to offer benefits. Yet, they have $4 generic prescriptions, a sort of roundabout apology for busting everybody's block.
Speaking of healthcare, how many more Americans couldn't afford it without belonging to a union that ensures they have it? You know, growing up, my parents probably couldn't have afforded to pay for me to have braces -- cosmetic, I know -- or maybe they'd have had difficulty paying for my asthma medication. But this isn't some kind of sob story, they could afford it, and made sure I had those things, mostly due to union-ensured benefits.
Because many employers see bottom lines and not people -- and we're not discussing small business owners as much as we are major corporations that can afford it but have shareholders to answer to, who don't know the people affected and don't care if a kid in Kentucky gets asthma meds and braces. And that's kind of a sad state of affairs, really, when neither employers nor the government seems willing to take care of their own.
As for teachers, and remember this is coming from a person who has many teachers in his family, it seems to me that it is not unions that keep the rotten ones in the system, but two other things: a system that allows them to be hired in the first place, and non-competitve wages. If we raise teacher's salaries, more would be interested in teaching, and thus would create a more competitive market where better teachers are hired.
Just my speech, for what it's worth.
Do Bloggers Need to Unionize?
I would suggest that bloggers may want to consider organizing not into a union, but a guild. This guild should be open to all, rather than a closed shop arrangement such as the Screen Actors Guild. The need to organize is brought about by the inequities in our society between the haves and the have-nots. In politics, for example, probably less than 15 percent of the population have all the money and basically control who leads our country. This is a problem that needs to be fixed. Without some organization on the part of bloggers there is a real danger the big money people, who don't want others to have a voice, will try to bully them out of existence. We need this free voice in our society.
Ron Coleman
Unite to Keep Free
Bloggers do need to unite, for the sake of Internet freedom.
There is an attempt I have heard about among mainstream media giants to charge users a small cent fee for every blog they post. This might seem ridiculous but so are the many detestable attempts to regulate and profit off of our freedom.
We are a Nonprofit organization, Free All With Truth, working to build a free work, and keep a free world. The Internet should be free, as well as made available to all. Freedom of speech must be maintained through all available venues. This is a serious issue as the Internet is one of, perhaps soon to be the most, important venue for the spread of information in the world today, right behind the TV.
Anyone interested in this cause do contact me at www.FAWT.org.
Cheers all.
Unionize Bloggers??!!
I think this is the silliest thing I have ever heard of.
Not so silly
It's not as silly as you might think. When you have rich people like Rupert Murdoch trying to control the news media, trying to control the flow of information, do you think for one minute they won't try to limit the ability of the small time blogger to voice his opinions? The best protection small time bloggers have against this is organization.
And that opinion of the small time bloggers is vital to the interests of freedom in our country.
Ron Coleman
www.coleman-cartoons.com
unions ?
Your concept... ? "the best protection against controlling organizations", is a controlling organization... are you smoking something ?
Bloggers Union
Might I take the liberty to suggest that bloggers visit "Resources for Labor Union Organizing," www.union-organizing.com, a site that is chock full of information for workers (including professionals) that wish/need to join together for improvement for their profession, their families, and needless to say, themselves.
I developed the site some years ago, as a former union representative, to help those find their way. When I organized my own profession, I looked in the yellow pages because there was no "one-stop" information online site for labor information that I found helpful to those needing assistance.
Many professionals form associations, which in essence are unions. I believe the term "association" tends to be more palatable to professionals because some hear the words "labor union" and unfortunately imagine negative scenarios.
Bloggers deserve the rewards for their work!
In Unity,
Jim Lowery
Resources for Labor Union Organizing
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