The hitch with unionising is that people can't do deals that increase their individual salaries, which is antithetical to the ambitious A-types that are rushing into the field nowadays. I also suspect that software people are more allergic to nonperforming, less-capable workers getting paid the same as them, and more importantly, more experienced workers (i.e., older workers) getting more than them. There will be too much infighting for unions to be successful, given how opinionated and stubborn most software people are. To make things worse, the field is not very standardized, unlike, say nurses, pilots, policemen, assembly-line workers or teachers. That also encourages schisms. The only other creative profession that can serve as a model is perhaps the writers who are a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Without good writing, there is no entertainment, and writers are aware of this fact and have capitalized on it well.

I understand your points. Still, common ground can be found. Why not avoid the contentious issues and focus only on a few areas with considerable support?

I think it is likely overtime pay would have broad support.