On Aug 16, 2008, at 9:16 PM, Bob Hull wrote: > How is this different from what the unions do? How did the > automobile manufacturing unions get to the pay and benefit levels > they have? It was by banding together. But, there will always, > always be someone who will do the job for less. Think about the > walmartization of America! "Let's shop for the cheapest product and > not worry about the quality." > > Bob Hull Yes, I think there is a distinction between the independent "piano technician as business" and the "piano technician as employee." While the Sherman antitrust act (which is as contrary to the fundamental principles of American democracy as anything I can imagine, but it is the law of the land, upheld by supreme court decisions) does prohibit us from "conspiring to set prices" as independents, I believe labor laws exempt people in an employee relationship from those strictures (unions are not defined as "trusts" or are, at any rate, defined as a specific exception). Not that I am an expert in this area of law, but that is certainly my impression. In which case, it _would_ be possible for piano technicians to form a union in relationship to employers (ie, full and part time employers, not per service). Not practical, but possible. And it is certainly legal to the best of my understanding to converse in any way we want about salaries. About tuning fees and other pricing structures for independents, that's where we can get into trouble. Again, I'm no expert, but I do try to pay attention <G>. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico fssturm at unm.edu
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