Software Unions (in Australia)
TLDR, is it worth it?
- If you are within 2 years of graduating, or changing jobs regularly, yes it is probably worth it.
- If you are in stable employment and have no plans of changing, no it probably is not.
Just a bit more detail
If you are within 2 years of graduating, membership fees will be around $224/year (after estimated tax deduction). Otherwise, it'll be around $554/year (after estimated tax deduction).
Their main benefits are around workplace advice and support, and financial advice and support.
If you think within the next 12 months you will potentially need support around discrimination, rates of pay, termination, or financial advice, AND that support is worth the listed then you should join.
To join, follow the many links on their site.
If you don't need those services, or don't think it's worth it, then you shouldn't join.
What is the software union?
(In Australia 🦘)
Software engineers and similar roles (QA Engineer, DevOps Engineer, etc) do not have a specific union in Australia.
The closest is Professionals Australia. For people working in defense, and IT (software), you are accommodated by the union as a whole, generically.
For people working in game development or management, you are accommodated by the Game Workers Division and "Other Managers and Professionals" Division.
Note
that even without joining, you still have free access to some of their resources like the Renumeration Report.
Membership Benefits
Professionals Australia offers confidential legal advice based around workplace and employment law (and representation "if needed"). This could relate to working conditions, intellectual property, pay rates, bullying and harassment or discrimination. Any time you would need a dispute resolved with an employer. They also provide support for salary negotiation.
They offer employment contract review.
There are 'professional development' sessions (probably bunk).
They offer services for reviewing resumes, training interviews, training for performance reviews, training in salary negotiations.
They also offer support and guides for people moving into management-related roles.
Membership Costs
Assuming a generic Victorian mid-level software engineering salary of $120,000 annual base rate. For a higher salary, you could have up to 45% off. Salaries above $75,000 but in lower tax brackets will have the highest union membership fee.
| Category | Before tax deduction | After 100% tax deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Full membership | $848 | $559.88 |
| Graduate | $339 | $223.74 |