At-large union membership for IT workers

[DBoon]

I work as an information technology specialist. I believe that supporting a strong union movement is a first step towards building a more progressive country.

I also think that (ideally) there would be a lot of advantages to union membership for someone like myself. For example, being able to get legal assistance in the event of a dispute with my employer, effective political lobbying for IT labor issues (outsourcing, benefits portability, intellectual property rights for IT workers, banning "no compete", etc.)

For free-lance and contract employees, I imagine it could provide benefits, similar to what unions do for the trades. E.g., set up a retirement fund, medical benefits, so free-lancers aren't entirely at the whim of the marketplace.

Is there an organization out there that has an at-large member category that supports these sort of goals?

The best I could find was a unit of the CWA, but that focuses on existing collective bargaining units. Otherwise, my searches come up with activist organizations (CPSR), but my interest is more in plain old employee empowerment.

Ideas?

[antigop]

1. I assume you are referring to Washtech?

http://www.washtech.org/

Have you looked at
http://programmersguild.org/

[DBoon]

3. Yes

Are they also behind:

http://www.techsunite.org/ ?

Do you have any experience with them? Are they worth working with?

[Hubert Flottz]

2. I agree!

I think if there is ANY hope of a third party in America that can win, it MUST be a labor party! I'd join in a heartbeat!

[DBoon]

4. I just joined cyberlodge!

Looks like just about the best:

https://secure.goiam.org/iamaw/cyberlodge/signup/signup.cfm

Part of the IAM. Says they provide health benefits. What I would love is some sort of pre-paid legal plan, to deal with employer/employee issues.

If I don't have a collective bargaining agreement, a union should at least help my individual interests.