An Appraisers Union - Yay Or Nay?

[Doug Wegener]

Just think, we're the ones with the licenses, and WE would set the fees. AMCs would answer to us.

Would an appraisers union work? Would you join?

It's needed due to the greed and oligopolies in the lending/appraisal business. . Don't know if it will ever happen.

One way it would be successful is if the employees of the large AMC's were included.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

The AGA is a non-traditional union. This means that we do not engage in collective bargaining, do not strike and do not enforce a closed shop.The AGA does not negotiate contracts, does not have shop stewards, or does it have any oversight regarding its member’s work products.

And then what do they do?

 

[Meandering]

They use the backing and the attorneys of the AFL-CIO to go after lawsuits, and to lobby.

They have a full time presence in Washington.

I spoke with their president many times when I was there working with my Congressman.

They are not a "new" organization and have been helping appraisers for many years.

.

 

[Elliott]

"How does AGA’s status as a union affect its members?
The AGA is a non-traditional union. This means that we do not engage in collective bargaining, do not strike and do not enforce a closed shop.The AGA does not negotiate contracts, does not have shop stewards, or does it have any oversight regarding its member’s work products."

I was in a public employees union for 9 years in a former life. Unions are only useful to do two things. Negotiate a contract and strike. Public employee negotiation is a walk in the park because the supervisor class get your benefits in the end. Like I asked early, who do we negotiate with? Even McDonald's employees know who their single source employer is.

 

[CANative]

IMO (FWIW) appraiser unions would erode the public trust in our independence.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

I could get me an union enforcer to drive me around.

 

[Meandering]

I was in a public employees union for 9 years in a former life. Unions are only useful to do two things. Negotiate a contract and strike. Public employee negotiation is a walk in the park because the supervisor class get your benefits in the end. Like I asked early, who do we negotiate with? Even McDonald's employees know who their single source employer is.

So your limited experience with a blue collar union applies to Guilds as well?

http://subcontractorunion.com/
http://www.petprofessionalguild.com/
http://wga.org/
https://www.authorsguild.org/
https://www.guildofwriters.org/
http://www.sagaftra.org/
http://www.actorsguild.org/

.

 

[George Hatch]

IMO (FWIW) appraiser unions would erode the public trust in our independence.

As noted above, collective bargaining is the primary draw for a union. Organized work actions are just a tool the collective bargaining units use to collectively bargain.

Traditionally, the idea was for union members to compromise some of their individual interest - like being free to work for less or cross picket lines to the detriment of the group - in exchange for their interests as a member of the group.

If a group of workers is more loyal to their union than to their employer then the effects of that on their work can be profound. And although unions are often painted as working at the lowest common denominator, that doesn't necessarily have to be the case. The union's training programs can be - and reportedly are in some cases - superior in quality and expectations than what an employer might choose to hire on their own. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that a shop steward or other union functionary might have considerable influence on one of their slackers to straighten up and stop causing problems for the other workers.

With appraisers, we're supposed to be working in the best interests of our intended users, that best interest being interpreted as providing them with the unbiased, impartial and technically proficient workproduct that better enables them to make an informed decision. Whichever type of entity most effectively promulgates and *enforces* the expectations that lead to that result basically sets the standards for others to follow.

In the appraisal business I would say that it is the individuals themselves who currently wield the most influence on what they will and won't actually do in any given assignment, followed by some of the clients and fewer "other" intended users. IMO the state licensing boards have only minimal influence on what appraisers do and the professional orgs and other member groups have next-to-no influence on what their members do beyond their role of providing the technical training.

IMO, the most reasonable expectation we could have for the influence of an appraiser's union on appraisal quality would be similar to the "other member groups", who after all, are trying to build their membership and support and dues-paying revenues and who will probably not step on their donkeys to raise the level of play because they need every last member they can attract.

 

[Meandering]

Professional guilds provide lobbying efforts and support.

No different than REVVA or CRN or whatever silly new group JT is forming.

.

 

[Evincere]

Speaking of John, I don't know if he is in a union, but here is an organization that he is part of which advocates for appraisers. John is a member of another organization I'm affiliated with as well (REAA in California). The NAA is national (I think).
http://www.naappraisers.org/

NAA just partnered up with Comergence. There is another thread running now about Comergence and its founder Greg something or other who contends that the Appraiser who does not concede to a background check, must have something to hide.

http://comergencecompliance.com/2015/2015/03/02/comergence-and-naa-join-forces/