I'm curious why there isn't any notable amount of interest, discussion, etc, around a labor union for software developers.
I suspect it's somewhat driven by the general approval of a meritocracy...and a similar dislike for tenure driving compensation.
However, if I compare to other highly skilled workforces, like airline pilots...it seems we're missing out on some opportunity. It's fairly easy to find examples where their unions clearly improved working conditions, treatment during layoffs, salaries, work rules, retirement, and so forth.
Pros: The pilots have managed to capture most of the airline profit.
Cons:
(a) The arrangement accrues most of the value captured to a relatively few pilots. Incoming pilots are payed horrible wages.
(b) An experienced captain must start all over at the bottom of a new airline with intern level pay. I think the famous pilot "Scully" worked on the east coast but lived in California instead of taking a job on the west coast. If he had switched jobs he would have had to start all over at the bottom.
(c) Software development may not be a true meritocracy but it does offer the ability to (due to demand) of moving to a new job whenever you want - we just aren't that exploited that it would be worth putting up with a union.