Software engineers can’t even seem to get themselves a decent union, but maybe they could take a few cues from their outspoken wordsmith counterparts online. A new campaign has apparently begun to start a bloggers’ union and secure standardized pay rates, benefits, etc.

Of course, I think the the whole concept takes for granted the fact that maybe 0.01% of those blogging:

1. Write for a publication that makes money
2. Make any money writing for said publication, let alone…
3. Make enough money to justify the kind of deal that would provide benefits, etc.

Something already tells me that those, what, 100-200 people blogging that meet the three conditions above will have their needs met by market dictates. That’s the philosophy we took with Engadget, anyway. We started hiring people into AOL for full-time salaried gigs as soon (and as frequently) as possible after the acquisition, and our AOL staff continues to grow.

Now, if you want to talk about meeting the true needs of the blogging community, how about an organized ethics panel — that isn’t O’Reilly’s BS “Blogger Code of Conduct“. I’m talking about a group of experienced bloggers / journalists that not only oversees issues of ethics in bloggers and blogging, but also oversees unethical treatment of bloggers at home (see: people getting fired for blogging at work), and abroad (see: Shi Tao).