Unionize???

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Mental-Tree

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Hi Guys,

Do any of you know and/or belong to a union which deals with the IT industry?

I'm tired of having to work tons of unpaid overtime and being expected to be on standby 24/7-365 without any compensation. Sure I could just look for another job BUT seeing what companies are offering salary wise now days is just sickening. It's like IT salaries(more specifically on the support side) have not increase at all over the past 5 years.

Perhaps we need to all embark on a country wide strike to demand better pay and working conditions... Just because we work with computers doesn't mean we can work like computers, right? Who's with me!? umshini wam umshini wam!
 
Mental-Tree said:
Hi Guys,

Do any of you know and/or belong to a union which deals with the IT industry?

I'm tired of having to work tons of unpaid overtime and being expected to be on standby 24/7-365 without any compensation. Sure I could just look for another job BUT seeing what companies are offering salary wise now days is just sickening. It's like IT salaries(more specifically on the support side) have not increase at all over the past 5 years.

Perhaps we need to all embark on a country wide strike to demand better pay and working conditions... Just because we work with computers doesn't mean we can work like computers, right? Who's with me!? umshini wam umshini wam!
Click to expand...

There are no "IT unions".
 
Solidarity... if you're serious.

But there are no IT unions.

Unless we all stand together and create a "BOFH union" for us all...

btw - your situation is exactly what made me allergic to unpaid overtime.
 
A union is no help unless most of the staff in a company are unionised
 
Be grateful you have a job and stop whining.

I'll assume you're working overtime to complete work that is due at a specific deadline, if you are being overworked approach the relevant department or person and bring the issue up with them, ask them to either pay you for the overtime (and make sure you have proof that you work overtime) or they must hire another person to assist with the workload
 
Mental-Tree said:
Hi Guys,

Do any of you know and/or belong to a union which deals with the IT industry?

I'm tired of having to work tons of unpaid overtime and being expected to be on standby 24/7-365 without any compensation. Sure I could just look for another job BUT seeing what companies are offering salary wise now days is just sickening. It's like IT salaries(more specifically on the support side) have not increase at all over the past 5 years.

Perhaps we need to all embark on a country wide strike to demand better pay and working conditions... Just because we work with computers doesn't mean we can work like computers, right? Who's with me!? umshini wam umshini wam!
Click to expand...

Option 1: You are being series... in which case:
Don't start bringing that union BS to what is currently an incredibly free and open industry for talented people. I would actively try to break any strike in any industry that I am in. In the IT industry you are NOT on minimum wage (if you are... look at yourself first), and as a skilled individual, overtime (unpaid) is often part of the job, and growth. I have worked so many unpaid overtime hours in my career it's not even funny. Am I being shafted? No. Has my salary in the industry grown, yes!

What could a union possibly bring to the IT industry other than its death?

You mention better pay and better working conditions... pray tell, how is sitting behind a desk with unlimited coffee not good working conditions? Poor diddems. The pay in the IT industry is anything but dismal... unless you truly suck.

Option 2: You aren't being serious... in which case:
lol... nice one.
 
I have seen many instances of Solidarity assisting "Wronged" employees.

Joining a Union such as Solidarity is good cheap Insurance against rogue employers, of which there are many.
 
shogun said:
I have worked so many unpaid overtime hours in my career it's not even funny. Am I being shafted? No. Has my salary in the industry grown, yes!
Click to expand...

Good for you. I've also worked enough overtime for two lifetimes and you know what, I've simply started to say no. I've just finished a stint commuting between Jhb & Pta for 1.5 years, so the balance between private & work life has been skewed against me for so long I've been neglecting myself & my family. That's why I decided no more, I'll do overtime when there's absolutely no other way but as a rule of thumb? Nope.

Funny thing is my boss started to treat me with new respect since I've told him the real reason for overtime is bad planning/management on his side, not mine.
 
Billy said:
I have seen many instances of Solidarity assisting "Wronged" employees.

Joining a Union such as Solidarity is good cheap Insurance against rogue employers, of which there are many.
Click to expand...

Agreed. 10 years ago I was against the concept of IT unions, remember a few debates at the SA Computer Society.
Now I think its a good idea. Its good insurance, and will become more relevant as South African companies outsource to overseas.

Heck - I won't point fingers, but I know of a large IT company that has a entire department staffed with Indian Contractors here on 6 month work visas. The entire entry level market for junior people is slowly disappearing - the opportunities I had 15 years ago do not exist anymore.
 
What's the qualifications required to become an IT support technician or whatever? A few certificates?
 
The bad stigma created around unions by the likes of Cosatu and their affiliates seems to weigh in heavily on a lot of the opinion here.

Also guys, don't assume that because you are being over paid to sit and drink coffee all day that we are all in the same boat and please don't try to justify having to work tons of unpaid overtime. "You work in IT, don't complain about work loads or the stagnant salaries, just get the work done peasant! - That's a horrible attitude to have.

@Segg, your advice/instruction(as if you can tell me what to do :confused:) is really sad. Why would you actively go around telling people that being complacent is good? That's the kind of attitude that is adopted by dictator governments, "you haven't had food for a week BUT you are still alive by our grace so be grateful."

If you are happy to work 70 hour weeks and then still be on stand by 24/7 good for you. If you are going to try and justify a work environment like that, North Korea is calling you. If you have something valid to contribute to this topic, go ahead.
 
Mental-Tree said:
The bad stigma created around unions by the likes of Cosatu and their affiliates seems to weigh in heavily on a lot of the opinion here.

Also guys, don't assume that because you are being over paid to sit and drink coffee all day that we are all in the same boat and please don't try to justify having to work tons of unpaid overtime. "You work in IT, don't complain about work loads or the stagnant salaries, just get the work done peasant! - That's a horrible attitude to have.

@Segg, your advice/instruction(as if you can tell me what to do :confused:) is really sad. Why would you actively go around telling people that being complacent is good? That's the kind of attitude that is adopted by dictator governments, "you haven't had food for a week BUT you are still alive by our grace so be grateful."

If you are happy to work 70 hour weeks and then still be on stand by 24/7 good for you. If you are going to try and justify a work environment like that, North Korea is calling you. If you have something valid to contribute to this topic, go ahead.
Click to expand...

It's my opinion that if you have a job in SA you should be grateful, if you feel you are being exploited by your employer (in terms of being overworked or underpaid) either look for greener pastures or talk to them about it. Bringing in a union will more than likely cause resentment towards you, as I see it people who hide behind unions instead of directly taking up their issues with their employers and trying to resolve them are too scared or have the "I deserve better" complex , have you even spoken to your superiors?

If they refuse to talk things out with you then by all means Union up, but just remember how they will view you after you go past that stage, and whatever you do don't make it as if they owe you anything, to your employer you are essentially replaceable
 
Segg said:
It's my opinion that if you have a job in SA you should be grateful, if you feel you are being exploited by your employer (in terms of being overworked or underpaid) either look for greener pastures or talk to them about it. Bringing in a union will more than likely cause resentment towards you, as I see it people who hide behind unions instead of directly taking up their issues with their employers and trying to resolve them are too scared or have the "I deserve better" complex , have you even spoken to your superiors?

If they refuse to talk things out with you then by all means Union up, but just remember how they will view you after you go past that stage, and whatever you do don't make it as if they owe you anything, to your employer you are essentially replaceable
Click to expand...

That ^^^. No matter how good you think you are, nobody is irreplaceable. Be glad you have a job in SA, and if you are white, be extatic!!.
 
And just imagine how the world would suffer without us. Pandemonium would ensure as people panicked around the globe. Unable to figure out why their PC's wont switch on or why they can't access the internet. One by one, every data center across the globe would collapse, data loss would be irreversible. Email and web service would be effected globally, companies will no longer know how to communicate with their clients, employees will no longer know how to get their work done able to work. We are like bees, you may never seen us but we are always hard at work and the world simply cannot survive without us:twisted:
 
Mental-Tree said:
And just imagine how the world would suffer without us. Pandemonium would ensure as people panicked around the globe. Unable to figure out why their PC's wont switch on or why they can't access the internet. One by one, every data center across the globe would collapse, data loss would be irreversible. Email and web service would be effected globally, companies will no longer know how to communicate with their clients, employees will no longer know how to get their work done able to work. We are like bees, you may never seen us but we are always hard at work and the world simply cannot survive without us:twisted:
Click to expand...

Yes yes ... and before IT absolutely nothing was accomplished.
 
^That was then this is now, have you seen how people panic if they cant send email?

PS. Whats your home address, I'd like to send you a pinch of salt :)
 
Here's an idea, if you don't like your employment conditions, get another job.
 
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