I was wondering about solidarity with adjuncts before I got down to the part where you discussed identifying unions worth joining. Adjuncts I know are grossly underpaid for the highly professional work they do, especially considering how much their professional qualifications cost to aquire. And, of course, many (most?) of them were grossly underpaid and mistreated as students.

But I really appreciate your thoughts about how teachers and researchers are service and trades workers. Of course they are! And that isn't a negative observation.

I used to contract work from machinists, for example, to repair/fabricate precision parts for huge and hugely expensive industrial equipment.

While the machines themselves were designed by university educated engineers, the work the machinists do is learned on the job, not in college. I don't know why. It's just a tradition.

It takes a machinist many years of on-the-job training to acquire the skills necessary to do the work. In the process, they acquire vast bodies of knowledge besides practicing the manual skills necessary to the job.

They're considered tradespeople, not professionals, even so. The best of them can earn hourly rates comparable to doctors and lawyers, though. (I know all too well! 🤣)

In the U.S., we've got a bit of a social prejudice against tradespeople, but we should try to overcome that. If you ask me, students should be proud to think of themselves as tradespeople.