History Main / WeirdTradeUnion

* A dedicated Teamsters union worker was attending a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels. When he got to the first one, he asked the Madam, "Is this a union house?" "No," she replied, "I'm sorry it isn't." "Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?" "The house gets $80 and the girls get $20," she answered. Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop. His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madam responded, "Why yes sir, this is a union house. We observe all union rules." The man asked, "And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?" "The girls get $80 and the house gets $20." "That's more like it!" the union man said . He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room, and pointed to a stunningly attractive blonde. "I'd like her," he said. "I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madam.. Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner, "but Ethel here has 67 years seniority and according to union rules, she's next."

* Terry Pratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books include "Guilds" for almost all possible jobs, including Thieves, Assassins, Plumbers, Fools, Exotic Dancers, "Seamstresses" (read: prostitutes), and even Beggars, and dogs. Several of them came about because ''Discworld/TheColourOfMagic'' was a parody of various other authors' worlds.
** A recurring background element is that clothes makers and needlewomen are entirely unregulated and independent, since the seamstresses' guild isn't at all interested in sewing...
*** "They call themselves ''seamstresses''... ''[[CoughSnarkCough hem]]'', ''[[IncrediblyLamePun hem]]!''" The fact that the "Seamstresses" Guild does not include actual seamstresses is dealt with surprisingly seriously in ''Discworld/FeetOfClay'', where miserable (and technically legal) sweatshops are depicted. The Seamstresses' Guild also keeps a few actual seamstresses on hand for when people inevitably get them mixed up (and so that men can get their socks darned while they "[[UnusualEuphemism get their socks darned]]"). And they earn more than regular...”seamstresses"
** Mindbogglingly, ''Discworld/TheTruth'' mentions Ankh-Morpork's Guild of Conjurers, which seems to train ''stage magicians''. In a fantasy world. With a university of wizards in the ''same city''.
*** The real wizards take magic very, very seriously, and in fact sometimes draw power from "not using magic." They aren't going to be going out there using real magic to entertain people, so someone might as well do it with fake magic.
**** WordOfGod is that Discworlders find conjuring more interesting than magic: "Oh, look, a billiard ball's appeared out of thin air; well, that's magic for you," whereas if you ''know'' it's being done with mirrors and trapdoors by someone without any magical ability at all...
*** At one point there was also a Guild of Magicians, who actually did use magic and weren't respected very much by either side. They seem to have faded out of canon or something. It is likely to be the same as the Conjurers, as several guilds have long and convoluted names shortened for convenience.
** When the Thieves Guild went on strike, crime rates actually went up. Turns out a lot of non-unionized criminals were just afraid of the guild enforcers.
*** Mind you, the Guild's purview is organizing crime and keeping it at a socially acceptable level; some theft is acceptable, but too much is unacceptable. Between that and the political need to keep all thieves in the union, Guild enforcers are more feared than the City Watch.
*** The Thieves Guild is more like an organized crime's protection racket. The distinction between a real protection racket and the Ankh-Morpork version is that in Ankh-Morpork, organized crime has a strong interest in maintaining the "protection" part. All but the poorest Ankh-Morpork residents pay subscription fees to the Thieves Guild so that licensed guild members won't rob them, or at least will be polite and nonviolent while doing it and not take too much. City residents who don't pay the fees are fair game for licensed thieves, and any ''un''licensed thieves in the city get punished brutally by the guild if they get caught. In one book it's stated that Patrician Vetinari legitimized the Thieves Guild - let them form a guild and operate openly, in exchange for controlling unlicensed theft - and he ensures that they keep up their end of the bargain because now he knows where the leaders live.
**** They actually had an actual protection racket at one point: The Guild of Firefighters (which was immediately disbanded, and have now been largely superseded by the city's fireproof Golem population, which are compelled by the words in their head to prevent the spread of fires).
** The Beggars' Guild operates in a somewhat similar way. Residents of particular area or people holding a specific event, such as a wedding, can pay the Guild the fee that ensures that no beggars will show up in the vicinity. Apparently, should someone forget to pay the fee, a surprisingly large number of beggars turn up at whatever event they are holding...
*** A running joke about the Beggars' Guild is the hardship their leaders suffer, because while the ordinary rank and file can live off the pennies they receive for a cup of tea, it's beneath the dignity of a Beggars' Guild leader to ask for anything less than the price of a 10 course banquet.
*** Foul Ole Ron and the Canting Crew, the most commonly seen beggars in the series, are ''not'' guild members. They actually go ''into'' the guild to beg on occasion, with surprising success.
** And, of course, the system reaches its logical conclusion in the form of the Guild of C.M.O.T. Dibblers, a fully licensed and legal guild intended to extend some ill-defined legality to the operations of the eponymous founder and, as far has been revealed, only member.
*** The loophole that allowed ''that one'' was filled in really quickly afterwards.
*** Another one-man Guild, the Guild of Victims, consists of one guy who serves as a stand-in for people who pay the Thieves' Guild to mug them at a specified time and place each year, thereby getting all their year's share of crimes taken care of when it's convenient. Yes, he's paid to get beaten up and robbed.

* ''[[Literature/TheElminsterSeries The Making of a Mage]]'' by Ed Greenwood shows the creation of a prototype thieves' guild--a "gang" incorporating several existing groups and individuals. The reason behind it was the environment hard for independent thieves... and, ironically, too oppressive for normal guilds ("The master tailors had no guild because [[TheMagocracy the magelords]] did not hold with guilds.").
* ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'' involves big business owners going on strike when laws become too restrictive for them.
** The owners/management preventing employees from working is actually called a lockout.
** It wasn't a lockout. The owners simply walked away from their businesses and all the employees [[AssPull suddenly forgot how to do the jobs they had been doing all their lives.]]

* ''Series/BabylonFive'' combines this with BlackComedy when Centauri Emperor [[TheCaligula Cartagia]], his hands deep red with blood (but otherwise in an impeccable white uniform) starts talking about his attempts to make G'Kar scream:

** Bear in mind he says all this in a voice that can only be described as disappointed and perhaps a bit bored. He even rolls his eyes once or twice.

* In ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', the Amalgamated Union of Philosophers, Sages, Luminaries and Other Professional Thinking Persons opposed using the computer Deep Thought to find the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything because, under law, the quest for Ultimate Truth was under their prerogative, and not the computer's. Their protest is withdrawn once the computer points out they can be "on the gravy train, for life" by switching to debates about what answer it will come up with 7.5 million years later. Besides, even they probably knew on some level that a national strike by ''philosophers'' was not a particularly dire threat.

* The tabletop RPG game ''SeventhSea'' has several major political factions, the largest of which is the Jennys' Guild, responsible for the welfare of sex workers across eight different countries.
** Though the majority of their members are "professionals", they tend to claim to be a feminist organisation(in a world roughly corresponding to early Renaissance). Obviously they don't use that word, but they say they're working for all women. Of course considering that they're the largest faction and their...membership base, their top agents are the mistresses of kings and nobles.(And some supposedly have a potion of immortality.)

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has Ravnica, the city of guilds, with ten guilds, each dedicated to a particular two-color combination of mana. They don't all act like traditional guilds, though. While the Golgari Swarm (farmers), Izzet League (engineers / public works), and Simic Combine (fantasy equivalent of genetic engineers / medical sciences) do, there's also the Orzhov Syndicate ([[PathOfInspiration an evil church]] and [[AmoralAttorney source of lawyers]]), Boros Legion (military and police), Cult of Rakdos ([[TheHedonist nonstop party]] and owner of most mines and foundries), the Selesnya Conclave (HiveMind and literal spirit of the law), the Azorius Senate (the letter of the law), the Gruul Clans (barbarians), and House Dimir ([[BlatantLies which doesn't exist and never did]], but if it did exist, [[TooDumbToLive did so only to oppose the guildpact]]). Each one gets a game mechanic.

* Unions are obviously banned in ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' (You're not a filthy COMMUNIST, are you?) but there are groups of weird individuals. Of course, protests require official permissions unless you want to get blasted.(Not that you have any guarantee of protection then.)

* ''AtlasShrugged'' involves big business owners going on strike when laws become too restrictive for them.

* Craig Shaw Gardner's ''[[Literature/TheExploitsOfEbenezum Ebenezum Trilogy]]'' has the Association for the Advancement of Mythical and Imaginary Beasts and Creatures, (AFTAOMAIBAC. Well, ''they'' think it's a catchy acronym.) which seeks equal tapestry representation for all mythical beasts (including the lesser-known ones such as the Bog Wombler.)

** Similarly, there's the Malcolm T. Washington, dedicated to African-American and African-Canadian Geniuses who work on oversized arthropods. Miraculously, when grant money gets involved, you can find a ''lot'' of smart, slightly crazy black guys who want to work with BigCreepyCrawlies.

* ''MagicTheGathering'' has Ravnica, the city of guilds, with ten guilds, each dedicated to a particular two-color combination of mana. They don't all act like traditional guilds, though. While the Golgari Swarm (farmers), Izzet League (engineers / public works), and Simic Combine (fantasy equivalent of genetic engineers / medical sciences) do, there's also the Orzhov Syndicate ([[PathOfInspiration an evil church]] and [[AmoralAttorney source of lawyers]]), Boros Legion (military and police), Cult of Rakdos ([[TheHedonist nonstop party]] and owner of most mines and foundries), the Selesnya Conclave (HiveMind and literal spirit of the law), the Azorius Senate (the letter of the law), the Gruul Clans (barbarians), and House Dimir ([[BlatantLies which doesn't exist and never did]], but if it did exist, [[TooDumbToLive did so only to oppose the guildpact]]). Each one gets a game mechanic.
** Return to Ravnica, revisiting the setting several years later, has had the guilds undergo (for lack of a better term) CharacterDevelopment in the interim. Among other changes, the Boros have become [[KnightTemplar|s]], The Dimir are now a cross between the public library system and a ThievesGuild, and the Rakdos are now Ravnica's [[CutLexLuthorACheck entertainment industry.]]

** Ralph, the toad from ''Yamara'' has mentioned his membership in a Familiars' Guild.

EvilMinions Local 204, {{Mad Scientist}}s Allied Labor Brotherhood, Dray Animals Teamsters 404, United Robot Workers, Astronaut Solidarity, International Workers of [[TheOldestProfession The World's Oldest Profession]] Local 69, etc. At any moment, the action could be interrupted by a labor strike, mandated coffee break, or possible violation of some obscure union regulation.

* Series 2 of ''{{Knightmare}}'' featured Bumptious the Dwarf, whose response to everything was to try and swear the dungeoneers into his guild of miners. One episode even included an inquiry into a workplace accident. Bumptious' [[OopNorth Northern]] accent was a clear reference to the former strength of the National Union of Miners in the North of England.

** Return to Ravnica, revisiting the setting several years later, has had the guilds undergo (for lack of a better term) CharacterDevelopment in the interim. Among other changes, the Boros have become KnightTemplars, The Dimir are now a cross between the public library system and a ThievesGuild, and the Rakdos are now Ravnica's [[CutLexLuthorACheck entertainment industry.]]

All aspects of TV production are [[UnionsInHollywood unionized]]. Thus, TV writers and directors are more familiar with the goings-on of union negotiations and politics than the average person. As a reference to the ubiquitous nature of unions in their lives, they will invent unions for unlikely occupations as throwaway gags or plot points.

* Somewhere between a WeirdTradeUnion and a Weird Secret Society is the League of British Bedsteadmen (a.k.a. the Society for Putting Broken Beadsteads into Ponds) from the Music/FlandersAndSwann song "Bedstead Men".

* Somewhere between a WeirdTradeUnion and a Weird Secret Society is the League of British Bedsteadmen (a.k.a. the Society for Putting Broken Beadsteads into Ponds) from the FlandersAndSwann song "Bedstead Men".

* The NewWorldOfDarkness has three non-comedic examples (two official and one fanon).
** In ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'' we have the Union of Artifice who have started forming mad-scientist unions to provide living and laboratory space; Artificers are predominantly poor, while mad science is ''expensive''.
*** Similarly, there's the Malcolm T. Washington , dedicated to African-American and African-Canadian Geniuses who work on oversized arthropods. Miraculously, when grant money gets involved, you can find a ''lot'' of smart, slightly crazy black guys who want to work with BigCreepyCrawlies.

** In VampireTheRequiem, the Carthian Movement is known for forming unions in whatever territory it controls.
* Many RPG settings have guilds for wizards and/or thieves.

*** Don't forget the 'Sack Stuffers Local 199,' who strike and cause a Springfield-wide food shortage. The strike gains the support of the shelf-dusters union.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}} episode ''The Rock'' Thespy support staff unionise but find their picket line is mistaken for a protest against [[CovertGroupWithMundaneFront the cleaners ISIS uses as a front]]. Also the cleaning staff had previously unionise but Malory had them killed.

** Bear in mind he says all this in a voice that can only be described as disappointed and perhaps a bit bored.

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* In the Flemish comic ''SuskeEnWiske'', at one point a dragon which is a servant of the Devil himself refuses to attack the heroes, claiming he is going on strike for better working conditions. He has to do it anyway, after being told he cannot go on strike without "joining the union" (of the Servants of Darkness, one assumes).

* ''{{Tintin}} In America'' has a meeting of "The League of Distressed Gangsters."

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* ''AskANinja'': Ninjas don't employ rabid squirrels because they're unionized and too expensive. Unfortunately, zombie chipmunks have proven to be a poor substitute.
* ''DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' has the Evil League of Evil for the supervillains, a Henchman's Union for, well, henchmen, and the Council of Champions for the superheroes.

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** Incidentally, like the above mentioned Guild of Seamstresses, the Worshipful Company of Bowyers (now a medical charity) still keeps a few actual longbow-makers on payroll to make bows for archery enthusiasts and movie propmasters.

* The Industrial Workers Of The World, possibly the only entity more inaccurately named than we are, has actually branched out into creating a chapter for ''the unemployed''.

* A dedicated Teamsters union worker was attending a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels. When he got to the first one, he asked the Madam, "Is this a union house?" "No," she replied, "I'm sorry it isn't." "Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?" "The house gets $80 and the girls get $20," she answered. Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop. His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madam responded, "Why yes sir, this is a union house. We observe all union rules." The man asked, "And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?" "The girls get $80 and the house gets $20."
"That's more like it!" the union man said . He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room, and pointed to a stunningly attractive blonde. "I'd like her," he said. "I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madam.. Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner, "but Ethel here has 67 years seniority and according to union rules, she's next."

* The Alliance of Magicians that Gob is blacklisted from in ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment''. Not a declared Union, but fits the trope well all the same. "We demand to be taken seriously"
** And presumably based on the RealLife Magic Circle, who have a similar goal of preventing the exposure of "magical" secrets.
** Gob actually ''started'' the Alliance of Magicians before they kicked him out.

* The Magician's Alliance that Gob is blacklisted from in ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment''. Not a declared Union, but fits the trope well all the same. "We demand to be taken seriously"

** Gob actually ''started'' the Magicians' Alliance before they kicked him out.

** It wasn't a lockout. The owners simply walked away from their businesses and all the employees suddenly forgot how to do the jobs they had been doing all their lives.