why don’t accountants unionize for higher pay?
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We are masochists who enjoy overworking for little pay. The taste of the Partner 🥾 is strong.
Because staff may want to be partners someday.
Because it wouldn’t result in higher pay
Because that would be a big mess that I want no part of.
Accountants could and that would give them the power to negotiate over pay, benefits, and working conditions. We are actually hosting webinars this month on how to take the first step in forming a union. Here’s the info:
- Jan. 8: https://actionnetwork.org/events/taking-the-first-step-jan-8
- Jan. 16: https://actionnetwork.org/events/taking-the-first-step-jan-16/
Because accountants are highly educated (relative to most other professions, calm down), and highly skilled (again, relative to other professions). The combination of being higher educated and higher skilled means they’re harder to replace and in shorter supply in the market. This results in higher wages and more leverage in negotiations. It is observed empirically in higher skilled / educated professions lower rates of unionization, so this phenomena is not unique to accountants. Fewer than 10% of medical doctors are unionized for example, and they sit side by side technicians and nurses that are more heavily unionized. So even with the prevalence and availability of unions within the profession, individuals still choose to opt out of unions.
I understand there are variations in industry (e.g., public defenders may skew higher which I’m assuming you’re referencing based on your job title) however it’s important to keep the macro view in mind. Typically unionization rates skew lower for higher salaries, which tend to skew higher with higher education.
If you just want higher pay, then work hard and do a great job. Generally the B4 pay market - I suppose collectively we set market to some degree. Personally, I am anti-union and literally always have been. They collect union dues, corruption at the higher levels is out of control and the union leaders generally only fight for members when they will personally benefit. Unions were needed at a point in history, but generally not as much anymore.
Big 4 is a racket, but it's a racket that so many young graduates buy into. There are many other options that provide a more reasonable lifestyle and sometimes better pay: industry or smaller firms.
Part of the problem is the Big 4 industrial complex dominates accounting programs and is seen as the only path to build a career. Having Big 4 experience on a resume is good, but not the only way.
Finally, graduates don't have the right skills coming out of college. Every firm has to invest a lot of resources into teaching skills that aren't learned in school.
The good news is there is a shortage of accountants. Choose the job that gives you what you want.
Unions are as bad as companies in many cases. Those with skills have leverage. Get the skills then you will have choices.
What does the top 90% of your post have to do with the question?
Accountants tend to be very passive and risk averse. They’ve been conditioned to not rock the boat and respect authority.
There are honestly a lot of industries, accounting included, that I have often wondered the same thing about. I think sometimes its that people are too afraid to stand up to the "machine" so to speak and there is nobody to really take charge of it.
Or they just realize it is a terrible idea and stop thinking about it
Would just union bust
Couldn't you say this about every industry though? Of course they'll try to union bust but you just have to organize better if that's what they try to do. I feel like it'd be worth it in the long run, but idk if i'm willing to dedicate the time it would take. I imagine others feel the same
Because you apparently don’t know how a union works…
Because higher pay goes to partners and the goal is to become a partner one day. Why would someone reduce their chances of high pay in the future?