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They have professional associations - the most successful unions ever, not least because they pretend not to be unions. See the medical profession as a good example.


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Yep. This is the big American secret the working class can't seem to discover.

The elite have busted the unions, but professional associations are stronger than ever. Doctors do it to avoid free trade, they are protectionist, and surprise! They get paid for it.

The primary purpose of professional associations is to protect the wealth of the members, and this is done by lobbying for protectionism.


Most professionals also belong to labor unions. They're just not called that; they're called professional associations.

They have a professional association which performs some of the same responsibilities as a union, but its not 1:1

There is also a thing called unions.

Historically, professions = Upper/Ruling Classes. Members of the ruling class don't (at least historically want/need) form unions precisely because they are/were the ruling class. [Edit: Professional Associations i believe were fairly common, as a vehicle to further the interests of a specific profession.]

Historically, the most successful 'unions' have been the professional medical, legal, and engineering associations, since they've been delegated the right under law to control the number of practitioners. For IT unionization to work, you'd need to persuade government to treat it as an engineering profession and require licensure. Personally, I think the window of opportunity to professionalize IT has long since closed.

None of these are unions, what you are referring to is occupational licensing and professional associations.

You don't call it a union, silly. A union is for socialists.

You call it a Professional Association. The same way doctors and accountants do. It's essentially the same as a union, but it's for rich, conservative people.


Most of the professions have professional associations, which serve some but not all of the the purposes of a shop floor union.

Professional associations are from different from unions. The stated reason for the existence of a professional association is the protection of the public. Unions, on the other hand, exist for the benefit of their members.

True, but there are plenty of high-skilled, high-paid workers who are unionized, although they typically would dispute the "union" tag.

The American Medical Association is a great example.


Most professions in the U.S have unions. The most publicized are their sport player unions, which have perfected the art of collective bargaining. Worker unions are a part of U.S culture.

Not sure what you refer to as not true - most professions in the U.S have a union. I didn't say most workers are a part of it.

The NFL players association is a highly successful union for people with unique abilities. Same with the Screen Actors Guild.

Highly specialized labor benefits from unionization as well.


Many professionals like lawyers and doctors may not have Unions, but have strong professional oranizations.

Established professions have unions and indeed entire libraries of case-law for this that are, at least by report in Australia, very highly effective.

Professional associations are just unions for richer people. Accountants, actuaries, doctors, etc. etc. ad nauseam.

They have unions and they actually get paid quite well.

Genuine question: Do other high-skilled professions have unions (like marketeers, scientists, lawyers, doctors, electrical engineers, ...)?
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