Should scientists have their own union?

Question

There are many organizations for scientists to join, but do they really do any good? I believe that it is time for the scientists of the world to join together to fight for what they feel is right. Just like carpenters and electricians have unions, scientists should have unions. The benefits such a union would have is innumerable, not just for scientist but for the whole world, especially considering that modern life wouldn’t be modern without them. Please give any comments you have on my idea, and I do hope that you will give your support if and when I follow through with my idea.

Answer 1

I'm a scientist who has been in a union; in fact I was a union rep.  The presence or absence of a union has nothing at all to do with the type of work being done, it is related more to the relationship between management and staff.  Some unions are better than others, again there is no relationship to the work performed.

Your idea is a non sequitor (no logical link to work performed).  Sorry, I won't support it.  A professional designation means more to me than a union ever will.

I WOULD support a professional designation for other fields than Engineering, Business and Medicine.

Answer 2

The purpose of a union is to ensure that its members have good working conditions.  That's not a problem for scientists.

As you say, there are already a number of organizations of which scientists can be members.  I don't see any point in a scientists union.

Answer 3

I think it is more important for scientists to join together to create an organization to fight against religious irrationality that hurts humanity and brings great harm to people.

Answer 4

I think it is a good idea.  However, getting it off the ground would be difficult.  The biggest problem would probably be the net reward.  

Firstm professionals typically are in demand, so the market left to it's own devices keep their salaries up to par.  This is a different story compared to the origins of large unions.  Which where oriented to semi-skilled labor such as  vocational, and trade workers.

The second problem is volume.  While a company such as a factory might have hundreds of employeed trade workers, they probably only have a few scientist.  Replacing a smaller workforce is just alot easier.  This would limit the influence of any type of union for scientist.