When I negotiate a starting salary, I don't just stick to "salary and workload."
I keep everything on the table. If there are any benefits that they can provide me that are outside the scope of salary and workload, it's possible I'll be able to get something more valuable to me while being more favorable for my potential employer
Eg I might negotiate team size if I'm coming in to lead a team, I might negotiate benefits if I'm going to a sufficiently small company, I might negotiate how frequently I'm expected to travel for the company
Being able to negotiate quality of life is important because many employers offer _what looks like_ a generous package but then shove their employees into dangerous working conditions.
Remember that unions are always less powerful than your employer, and you can influence the union more easily than you can influence your employer (caveats on seniority in which case a union isn't for you), for better and worse
I keep everything on the table. If there are any benefits that they can provide me that are outside the scope of salary and workload, it's possible I'll be able to get something more valuable to me while being more favorable for my potential employer
Eg I might negotiate team size if I'm coming in to lead a team, I might negotiate benefits if I'm going to a sufficiently small company, I might negotiate how frequently I'm expected to travel for the company
Being able to negotiate quality of life is important because many employers offer _what looks like_ a generous package but then shove their employees into dangerous working conditions.
Remember that unions are always less powerful than your employer, and you can influence the union more easily than you can influence your employer (caveats on seniority in which case a union isn't for you), for better and worse