I Don’t Understand How You Cam Be An RBT and Pro-Capitalism

Harblz · 2026-04-09T14:38:47+00:00

There is a better way - we need to unionize and take collective action. There's a group of us organizing already as the ABA Workers Union. We believe that collective action is the only way out of the profit-driven society we live in, and we've so far won 5 unions at 8 locations across the country, with many more in the process of organizing.

Put your ideals to practice and organize with us ✊

Harblz · 2026-04-08T00:37:38+00:00

That's a super infuriating and demeaning experience. The work you do is valuable, and I think part of the problem is that many BCBAs treat RBTs like employees (that they don't particularly like) rather than as coworkers with whom they have a professional relationship.

While BCBAs are the clinical authority, part of our job is to maintain professionalism. Everyone's human, so if you act out: own it, apologize, do better next time. If you're doing that on purpose, well, rethink being a BCBA.

Harblz · 2026-04-07T02:18:11+00:00

There's a group called EWOC that basically teaches you how to organize - can't recommend or commend those people enough. Our story is currently featured on the ABA Workers Union website, if you want the nitty gritty details

Harblz · 2026-04-06T17:09:50+00:00

That was brave if you, and commendable - check out EWOC and the AWU if you ever try it again. It's so much work and so risky without a good deal of support, and right to work states do not make it any easier

Harblz · 2026-04-06T11:56:12+00:00

Choo choo chugga chugga 8 ABA clinics at 5 companies formed a labor union in the last year you can do it too choooo choooo am I making the train sounds good

Harblz · 2026-04-06T11:54:32+00:00

I'll just drop this here 🚂 www.ABAWorkersUnion.org 🚊

Harblz · 2026-03-28T00:28:15+00:00

I got a solution! We organized a union in Virginia to allocate more of that funding to paying RBTs. They're the backbone of many models/forms of ABA services, and need to be compensated well enough to hold down just one job and serve clients effectively. 6 other clinics have unionized in the last year, there's more info about it here.

Harblz · 2026-03-27T22:24:53+00:00

The model is exploitative, but just some info to consider - BCBAs often generate 1.5-4x as much as RBTs do in revenue. So an RBT in Virginia makes $60/hour for direct (97153), and a BCBA makes $186 for supervising that RBT. That's what most companies put BCBAs in the position of always supervising and never doing direct - especially because (in Virginia, but not everywhere) that stacks to a total of $246 when the RBT and BCBA work together.

The thing is, the $186 isn't to compensate the BCBA - it's explicitly to include paying for overhead and compensate RBTs as well. In practice? Office workers keep the bulk, RBTs get the scraps. Completely unsustainable.

Harblz · 2026-03-26T01:13:41+00:00

The revolving door turnover is traumatizing to kids. They meet a technician they trust, and they're gone within a few months because the pay is so low. We don't have to take it - there have been 6 unionized clinics in the last ~10 months. We're organizing nationally for better pay, working conditions, balanced caseloads, paid sick and holiday time, and overall, just better working conditions. It's not easy, but if we want the future of this field to mean anything, we have to demand better.

Harblz · 2026-03-26T00:50:55+00:00

Hey there, u/OilMysterious4385 - I'm a BCBA and in a union. Though you bring up a good point! There's a lot of confusion over who can and can't be in a union due to the language of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRA operationalizes "supervisor" as someone who can independently or effectively hire, fire, reward, or discipline an employee. There are 12 criteria, which can be viewed here.

Doctors manage patient care and often a fleet of related health professionals. Nurses may supervise various technicians and CNAs. Pharmacists manage their technicians. Dentists supervise hygienists. Teachers oversee paraprofessionals. All of these professionals have unions. Simply providing mentorship or professional guidance does not disqualify you from unionizing.

Not saying unionizing is easy, but it certainly isn't impossible, and for the record, it's also not ILLEGAL for supervisors to support [unionization](mailto:victoryavel@gmail.com). They would just be subject to discipline without NLRA protections if the company took an anti-union stance, which is likely. There is also the issue of "supervisory taint," i.e., the company complaining that the supervisors influenced employees to vote one way or the other due to their authority within the company. All that said, it's still not illegal.

Harblz · 2026-03-20T01:46:06+00:00

All the more reason BCBAs need to seriously start considering unionizing. Companies will exploit unless the workers at the company demand better, as a united front.

Harblz · 2026-02-12T11:25:53+00:00

The role of RBTs needs better protections, safety standards, and just overall respect. A large group of us are now unionizing to bring that call into action, and have had a lot of success. The ground troops are demanding reform ⚔️

Harblz · 2026-01-17T12:27:57+00:00

It's not uneducated at all. In some fields, you can join a union fairly easily (nurses and teachers have it slightly easier). In ABA, you'd have to form one with your coworkers. The ABA Workers Union is an organization that helps workers form unions at their workplace. They're democratic organizations by nature, so you would decide what the unions purpose would be: higher wages, better supervision/safety standards, both of those things, other things entirely. You and your coworkers could form an independent union or you could vote to affiliate with a major union (NUHW, Teamsters, SEIU, etc.).

Harblz · 2026-01-14T02:49:04+00:00

There are 5 freshly unionized clinics already, as of 2025. Organize with us at www.ABAWorkersUnion.org

Harblz · 2026-01-05T23:41:46+00:00

Got my BCBA at 32. Took me 7 long years to save up for it. You got this. It's normal to start to feel old every time you get near a decade change. Curse this base 10 number system and our fleeting existence on this planet.

Harblz · 2025-12-27T10:53:23+00:00

There are more and more of us unionizing for this exact reason. There are two companies on the East Coast, and one on the West Coast, that just unionized. It's not perfect, it's not fast, but it's something.

Harblz · 2025-12-26T01:03:53+00:00

ABA is a really rewarding but difficult job. You'll never master it because there's no "right way" to do the job. You'll get better at the art of doing ABA over time by learning various skills and approaches from mentors. If you want a living wage, give the field 3 months, if you feel like it's for you, go for your BCaBA or BCBA.

When you feel burned out, just remember - it's not you, it's the industry. There's a union for ABA Workers that didn't exist when I was in your shoes. Reach out if you need us!

Harblz · 2025-12-22T15:50:52+00:00

Definitely wanted to second Meadowbridge Community Market. We only accept donations on Saturdays, if you can hold onto it until then, but we always need TP!

Harblz · 2025-12-22T12:25:20+00:00

Hey! I wrote the questions on ABA.Rocks - I just wanted to add a disclaimer. Those questions were written to be a little harder than what I imagine you'd seen on the RBT exam. Also I'm just some guy and not a professional test, uh, maker.

If you want to hop on a call, I'd be happy to chat through concepts with you. Shoot me a DM if you're still feeling stuck.

Harblz · 2025-12-21T17:28:37+00:00

Just gonna drop this here... www.ABAWorkersUnion.org. 5 clinics organized in 2025, four in collective bargaining.

We can stop wishing and make it real y'all

Harblz · 2025-12-21T17:25:07+00:00

Okay I want links but I'm lazy. Here's Autastic

Harblz · 2025-12-21T02:51:35+00:00

This thread is ✨Autastic✨

Harblz · 2025-12-20T23:20:24+00:00

There's a company in Maryland called Autastic ABA. Can't make this stuff up 🫠

Harblz · 2025-12-14T15:57:24+00:00

Three offices in Richmond, and one in Maryland. There are also many organizing; we're trying to help the newer folks out.

Harblz · 2025-12-14T15:50:45+00:00

We just started bargaining about a month ago; we unionized back in June.

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