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Unions? Really?

I have no idea what to make of this story:

Bloggers Consider Forming Labor Union

CHICAGO — Do bloggers need their own Norma Rae?

In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to form a labor union they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards.

The effort is an extension of the blogosphere’s growing power and presence, especially within the political realm, and for many, evokes memories of the early labor organization of freelance writers in the early 1980s.

Organizers hope a bloggers’ labor group will not only showcase the growing professionalism of the Web-based writers, but also the importance of their roles in candidates’ campaigns.

“I think people have just gotten to the point where people outside the blogosphere understand the value of what it is that we do on the progressive side,” said Susie Madrak, the author of Suburban Guerilla blog, who is active in the union campaign. “And I think they feel a little more entitled to ask for something now.”

But just what that something is may be hard to say.

Click the link above to read the whole story.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 5th, 2007 at 6:21 pm and is filed under Randomness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

4 Responses to “Unions? Really?”

  1. psychospazmom Says:
    August 5th, 2007 at 9:29 pm

    I may be way off here, because I am not a blogger, BUT, unions are for paid laborers. Do bloggers get paid, outside of “pay per post” type incentives? Who is it that they want to pay their health benefits? I dont get it. Someone elighten me please. Because from where Im sitting, this is a bunch of malarky!

  2. Jeremy Hobbs Says:
    August 5th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    Interesting idea, but I’ll pass. Curious to see where is goes though, keep us informed :-)

  3. Beccagirl Says:
    August 6th, 2007 at 9:29 am

    Hmm, does this mean if we blog and are not a part of the ‘UNION’ that makes us blogging scabs? When I log into my blogger account, now I’ll have to answer “Are you sure?” as if to say, I’m crossing some sort of invisible picket line. I don’t particularly want to pay union dues either…I think it’s interesting to think people want the ability to ask for ‘more’ for volunteering to do something. Call me crazy.

  4. Patrick D. Says:
    August 6th, 2007 at 1:49 pm

    I’ve got my answer to this whole unionizing idea.

    ‘Blow it out your backside.’

    Enough said.