History Main / WeirdTradeUnion

* 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because, under law, the quest for Ultimate Truth was under their prerogative, and not the computer's. Their protest is withdrawn once the computer points out they can be "on the gravy train, for life" by switching to debates about ''what'' answer it will come up with 7.5 million years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 ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' body of work has a union for the newest characters and pseudo-characters. "Late Era New-Ish Characters Union 208", led by Sharpdene (Introduced April 1st, 2016)[[labelnote:*]]a female alter ego for Strong Bad, taped to a coatrack wearing sunglasses and a wig.[[/labelnote]] as the Chair, er, Coatrackperson. Other members include F-Sack (Introduced August 3rd, 2015)[[labelnote:*]]a sentient filthy sack containing Flash Animation motion tweens and depreciated actions.[[/labelnote]], Humidibot (Introduced November 10, 2015)[[labelnote:*]]a robotic [[NonIndicativeName dehumidifier]], based on a fan's Austin Air-brand Bedroom Machine air purifier[[/labelnote]]. This union made their debut introducing their newest member, Anew App (formally introduced December 24, 2022 but made small cameos throughout the month)[[labelnote:*]]a frog with a smartphone[[/labelnote]].

** The Centauri seem to like this trope. They also have a Telepath's Guild, in contrast to the human Psi Corps (which is a MutantDraftBoard). [[note]]In the pilot episode the Psi Corps was presented more as a voluntary guild than a draft board that human telepaths were forced to join.[[/note]

* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Rom organizes the employees of Quark's Bar in direct violation of Ferengi law. Interestingly in this case, Quark's mistreatment of his employees is noticeably less harsh than that which is expected from a Ferengi boss. The Ferengi government intervenes in the dispute at one point and is ready to use drastic measures to dismantle the union--suggesting that the government often acts as a sort of trade union for Ferengi entrepreneurs.

** The Centauri seem to like this trope. They also have a Telepath's Guild, in contrast to the human Psi Corps (which is a MutantDraftBoard).

** The Thieves Guild operates interestingly and has played a background but persistent role in several books. It's a bit like an insurance agency crossed with a protection racket. You pay a fee to the Guild a few times a year and they're bound by contract not to mug/rob/steal from you. The more you pay, the better the contract. Simple ones include muggings that leave you with a few bruises, and high-tier ones see a thief politely tip his hat, flash his license, accept a coin, and walk away. The Guild offsets these structured crimes by coming down very, ''very'' hard on criminals who operate without a license -- much harder than the legal authorities (unlicensed thieves ''pray'' to be caught by the Watch before the Guild). Net result: when the Thieves Guild goes on strike, the crime rate goes ''up''. After this happened, the Watch fell into disuse for a while, because the Guilds just had to work less to reduce crime a lot, while the Watch would have to work themselves ragged. There was a genuine protection racket at one point, in the Guild of Firefighters, which was immediately disbanded. They 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 Assassins' Guild, while having a number of characters who are members and/or alumni (Vetinari himself was one) veers into ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything territory, much like Wizards who never actually use magic. They're more noted for the cases in which they ''won't'' take an assassination. Supposedly the bell signifying an "inhumation" rings daily, but only nameless background characters are involved.

* ''Fanfic/TheNewGuild'' by Creator/AAPessimal asks an obvious question concerning a hitherto un-wanted occupational trade name on the ''Franchise/{{Discworld}}'' and what might happen if a new Guild arose to lay claim to it (The sex workers are officially called the Guild of "[[UnusualEuphemism Seamstresses]]", so the clothing industry declared themselves to be the Guild of Prostitutes).

* A deleted scene from season 5 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' apparently showed the ship that crashed into Blood Gulch did have a pilot, but he wouldn't fly them out because he was in the union and didn't have to do anything. This made him a hero to perpetual slacker Griff.

** We are morons, tried and true; and we’ll do our yell for you!!

* ''VideoGame/DrLangeskovTheTigerAndTheTerriblyCursedEmerald'': Not only does this game have a backstage, the stagehands are currently on strike, forcing you to do their jobs for them.

** There's also a "[[DistaffCounterpart Shinigami Men's Association]]" (which only appears in the anime omakes), whose primary activities involve sitting around [[{{Fanservice}} showing off their muscles and tattoos]], and [[ButtMonkey having their funds requisitioned by the Women's Association]].

** Also, Industrial Workers Local 690 does indeed represent [[TheOldestProfession The World's Oldest Profession]].

* In ''[[Film/StTrinians The Wildcats of St. Trinian's]]'' the girls of the eponymous school decide to go on strike after they decide they've been given too much schoolwork to do, ultimately forming (via devious means) a national union of schoolgirls and holding the government to account, despite the establishment's attempt to stop them by equally devious means.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' has the "{{Shinigami}} Women's Association", whose primary activities involve sitting around eating snacks, demanding {{Beach Episode}} vacations, and making Shinigami apparel more feminine. Rukia mentions that the [[TastesLikeDiabetes obnoxiously cute]] duck-shaped Soul Pill dispenser was designed by the Women's Association (though she also apparently [[NotSoAboveItAll requested the rabbit-shaped one]]).

* ''Fanfic/TheNewGuild'' by Creator/AAPessimal asks an obvious question concerning a hitherto un-wanted occupational trade name on the ''Franchise/{{Discworld}}'' and what might happen if a new Guild arose to lay claim to it (The sex workers are officially called the Guild of "[[UnusualEuphamism Seamstresses]]", so the clothing industry declared themselves to be the Guild of Prostitutes).

* ''Fanfic/TheNewGuild'' by Creator/AAPessimal asks an obvious question concerning a hitherto un-wanted occupational trade name on the ''Franchise/{{Discworld}}'' and what might happen if a new Guild arose to lay claim to it.

* In Robert [=McCloskey=]'s ''Homer Price'' Dulcey Dooner claims to be Secretary-Treasurer of the Sign Putter Uppers Union. It's pretty obvious from context that he invented it on the spot to get paid more for putting up street signs.

* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': Assassins and thieves organized themselves into guilds in most cities. Sam (assassin) and Arcie (thief) had both been members of their respective guilds, with the latter a guildmaster.

** In one of the comics, Arthur Crandall(the ventriloquist behind Gabbo) prevents Krusty from renewing his character copyright so he can take over as the new Krusty the Clown. After failing to take his identity back legally, a new scheme is hatched where Krusty takes Sideshow Mel's place as Arthur Krusty's sidekick. When Arthur tries to fire Krusty on the spot, Krusty informs him that there are provisions to firing him like two-week notice. Krusty boasts that sidekicks have a great union, and you can see behind him [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Robin]], [[Literature/SherlockHolmes Dr. Watson]], and the musician of ''Series/TheTonightShow'' all wearing union t-shirts.

** The trope is played even more literally in "The Doctor Is Sin". Dr. Venture admits that one of the reasons Venture Industries has not been productive is that it's a union shop and the workers have been on strike for years. So Dr. Killinger "negotiates" on his behalf with the "machine workers, nuclear engineering, and custodial super-science unions" and replaces his workforce with scabs.

* The [[http://www.liverycompanies.com/ Livery Companies]] of the City of London (note the capital "C", i.e. just the historical City of London, excluding the wider London Metropolitan Area) are vestigial remnants of specific guilds, such as the haberdashers' or longbow-makers' or horse-doctors' unions, which [[ScienceMarchesOn industrialization]] and the passage of time have rendered obsolete. Today they largely exist as fraternities and/or benevolent organizations, though a few, such as the Worshipful Company of Scriveners, continue to exercise some regulatory authority over their relevant profession (i.e. notary), the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers is responsible for testing firearms for safe operation, the Apothecaries' Company offers pharmacy licensing and education, and the company of Goldsmiths currently oversees the technical aspects of the mint and the UK's version of the Bureau of Weights & Measures.

** The Guild of Seamstresses ("They call themselves ''seamstresses''... ''[[CoughSnarkCough hem]]'', ''[[{{Pun}} hem]]!''") gets a fair amount of both serious and comedic attention, starting with their leader being called [[ADateWithRosiePalms Rose Palm and her female underlings being referred to as "daughters"]]. The fact that the "Seamstresses'" Guild does not include actual seamstresses is dealt with surprisingly seriously in ''Literature/FeetOfClay'', where miserable (and technically legal) sweatshops are depicted. The Guild also keeps a few genuine seamstresses, as in women who can darn socks and mend holes in clothes, 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]]"). Some of those ladies earn more than the regular guild members because the misunderstanding is so widespread.

** There is also the Guild of Musicians. Anyone who wants to write or perform music must be a member, and of course, the Guild decides what types of music are proper. In ''Literature/SoulMusic'', Bud E. Holly and friends introduce a type of Rock and Roll, but can't afford to be guild members. So, naturally, the Guild wants to put a stop to the performers.

* The TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness has two non-comedic examples.