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 labour 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 labour organization of freelance writers in the early 1980s.
Organizers hope a bloggers' labour 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.''
If you blog as part of your employment, you may want to consider joining this new bloggers' union. However, if you don't blog for anybody but yourself and your adoring readers, you're out of luck... there is no law in any North American jurisdiction that I am aware of that would allow such an organization to exist and actually enter into legally binding contracts to win benefits or any other benefit. Unions are based on employment relationships. Without one, you're out of luck.
1 comment:
A union for bloggers is a pretty stupid idea. If someone is blogging for a living, there are already blogging organizations which can lend support. Bloggers are freelance, they don't need to pay dues to anyone for protection.
Post a Comment