Update: The Union was Recognized! Noble Knight Games employees Unionize.

[Lazvon]

There are considerations other than profit margins and even employee pay that a union might address. A union might negotiate for benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc., etc.), better working conditions, stable work schedules, and job security.

Um. Those eat into profits, thus calling into question viability of the company. Hence why Union or not in my mind, means so much.

Cutting people down to 20 hours a week means they won't qualify for benefits.

Didn’t say that. Folks who want benefits of union, even if potentially means the company shuts down, should ask for part time work so they can go get their monetary and other benefits net. Again, if the company is profitable enough - absolutely provide for these things directly to the employees. If not, and the employee wants the discounts/industry “experience” or whatever drive them to seek employment in this retail/warehouse… then they can either force it to close (not enough profit for owner(s) by unionizing, or figure out how to make it work for themselves to work there.

Fair Labor and Standards Act is a federal law

Yes, 1.5x base rate over 40 unless exempt for that type of job. Holiday/weekend/shift hours if not over 40, all standard rate. Swapping for more hours voluntarily not covered if I remember correctly. All those extra things a Union could help with along with dismissal policies, advancement opportunities, tenure based dismissals, whatever they can dream up that made them feel they needed a union.

Almost every single thing they likely want though, will decrease profits the owner(s) are taking… thus risking the viability of the business for the owner, thus risking closure - and no job. Ummm, win?

Again, don’t know the situation. They have to decide for themselves. I am neither for or against them unionizing without further data as to the impacts to the viability of the business. And I don’t work there anyways so have no voice other than hoping NKG can survive so I can conduct commerce with them. I also wouldn’t work there unless something drastically changes in my life (good - can retire today, or bad - no longer employable in current career).

 

[Staffan]

Almost every single thing they likely want though, will decrease profits the owner(s) are taking… thus risking the viability of the business for the owner, thus risking closure - and no job. Ummm, win?

A business that isn't viable while providing decent terms of employment for its workers is not viable, period. It is not reasonable that workers should live in squalor just because someone wants to cosplay as a businessman.

 

[Lazvon]

Bathroom breaks? That's an issue. Or you might be familiar with the recent rail issue we had ... most of the coverage was about the possible supply chain disruption. But the union wasn't interested in higher wages- the reason for the action was because ... and this might shock you ... because the workers in question were required to be "on call" 90% of the time. They had no sick days (either paid or unpaid). They could not take time off for funerals (!!!) that were not ... planned well in advance (!!!????!!!!!!).

Doesn’t all those things impact profitability? Or at least business operations if unpaid leave and can’t get anyone to cover? Or back to profitability and that unpaid time off, that increases someone covering their hours above 40-hours that week and paid 1.5x per hour?

Again, if the company can afford top union busting law firm… I would bet they can cover the union demands… then it just depends on how petty the owner(s) is… is 30% margins enough or is that 33% margin they feel they deserve as the owner that important?

Again, without more data, can only express imaginary counter arguments.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Almost every single thing they likely want though, will decrease profits the owner(s) are taking… thus risking the viability of the business for the owner, thus risking closure - and no job. Ummm, win?

If you unionize, we will close the business and you'll all lose your jobs!
-Charles Montgomery Plantagenet Schicklgruber "Monty" Burns

Oh, wait, that wasn't Mr. Burns! That was every union buster, every time.

Did you know that corporate profits in the US have been trending upwards from 1951 until today, reaching a record high in 2022? In 2022 Q2, corporate profits in the US were ... wait for it .... wait for it .... 2,522.6 BEEEELLEEEEEON Dollars. And yet ... we have to worry that the corporations might go out of business if workers get bathroom breaks or are allowed to go to funerals?

Sure.

 

[Lazvon]

Did you know that corporate profits in the US have been trending upwards from 1951 until today, reaching a record high in 2022? In 2022 Q2, corporate profits in the US were ... wait for it .... wait for it .... 2,522.6 BEEEELLEEEEEON Dollars.

Absolutely! My retirement at 55 until I die hopefully before 110 and money to spend on hobbies requires it…

Do we think NKG is that profitable? If so, ABSOLUTELY UNIONIZE and ensure the employees get all their needs taken care of!!! I don’t think they are in that bucket, but hopefully wrong.

 

[billd91]

Did you know that corporate profits in the US have been trending upwards from 1951 until today, reaching a record high in 2022? In 2022 Q2, corporate profits in the US were ... wait for it .... wait for it .... 2,522.6 BEEEELLEEEEEON Dollars. And yet ... we have to worry that the corporations might go out of business if workers get bathroom breaks or are allowed to go to funerals?

Or, heaven forbid, workers might actually share in some of that profit.
And keeping in mind that those record profits are also at a time of high inflation caused by... apparently anything but those record profits.

 

[Fifth Element]

Doesn’t all those things impact profitability?

"But if we let our employees go to the bathroom, we won't make as much money!"

 

[Fifth Element]

Do we think NKG is that profitable? If so, ABSOLUTELY UNIONIZE and ensure the employees get all their needs taken care of!!!

You keep dodging this point - if your business cannot afford to pay its workers a livable wage and treat them like human beings, then your business model sucks and you should go out of business.

 

[Blue Orange]

You keep dodging this point - if your business cannot afford to pay its workers a livable wage and treat them like human beings, then your business model sucks and you should go out of business.

In some cases, this may actually leave the people in the area worse off.

We're talking a first world country in the games industry, though.

It's also worth mentioning that even if you could raise taxes on every industry to support a greater welfare state in the aggregate (as most European countries do), raising the costs of one particular business might only drive it out of business. So it's not so clear-cut.

 

[billd91]

In some cases, this may actually leave the people in the area worse off.

That's always the excuse used to justify not imposing safeguards to prevent the exploitation of workers. It's ultimately a fear-mongering tactic.

It's also worth mentioning that even if you could raise taxes on every industry to support a greater welfare state in the aggregate (as most European countries do), raising the costs of one particular business might only drive it out of business. So it's not so clear-cut.

Not just European countries. We tax corporate profit too. Eisenhower had some very strong things to say about it back in the 1950s. Our rate is higher than many European countries, but we allow loopholes out the wazoo.