Bloggers Consider Forming a Labor Union

The August 6, 2007 Associated Press ran a story entitled "Bloggers Consider Forming a Labor Union."Apparently, a loosely formed coalition of bloggers are trying to form a labor union with the hope of obtaining health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards. From the article:

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 labor organization of freelance writers in the early 1980s.

Organizers hope a bloggers' labor 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."

But just what that something is may be hard to say.

The only problem with this idea is that there is no employer in most cases. Bloggers generally do not work for anyone, but themselves. In theory, group bloggers, where a number of bloggers blog on one site or as part of a Network might be able to unionize. The major problem they will face is the argument that the bloggers are independent contractors.

I do not see a blogger labor movement. However, I can see some type of professional organization developing, such as the American Bar Association, which sets some type of standards. Being a member of such an organization may steer traffic to a bloggers site.

In any event, count me in.

Mitchell H. Rubinstein

Hat Tip: Workplace Prof Blog