3 TAKING ON TECH WORLD
TECH COMPANIES HAVE ACCUMULATED UNFATHOMABLE POWER IN THE PAST THREE DECADES. THESE WORKER GROUPS ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR PIECE.
A. AI NOW INSTITUTE
This NYU research center, led by faculty director Meredith Whittaker (an organizer of the 20,000-employee Google walkout, in 2018), delves into the societal ramifications of artificial intelligence, including algorithmic bias and the tech’s effect on labor and automation.
B. UNITED HCL WORKERS OF PITTSBURGH
In 2019, approximately 80 Google IT services contractors from HCL Technologies successfully formed one of the first tech industry unions. Google employs more contractors than full-time workers, and they have fewer rights and benefits.
C. THE CONGRESS OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Founded by Chris Smalls, a former Amazon warehouse supervisor fired for protesting the lack of COVID-19 protections, TCOEW has highlighted Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s wealth compared with warehouse employees’ income, and supports essential workers’ efforts to improve their conditions.
D. AMAZON EMPLOYEES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE/MICROSOFT WORKERS 4 GOOD
White-collar tech workers, fed up with such misdeeds as Big Oil contracts and government surveillance efforts, have pushed their employers to do better via internal and social media pressure. In 2019, Amazonians staged a walkout that helped precipitate the company’s Climate Pledge, and the Microsofties pushed to end donations to Republicans who rejected 2020 election results.
E. ATHENA FOR ALL
This coalition of almost 50 groups committed to racial and economic justice is focusing initially on ending Amazon’s “spying, gentrification, dirty energy, monopoly, and worker abuse.”
F. CAMPAIGN TO ORGANIZE DIGITAL EMPLOYEES/ TECH WORKERS COALITION/GAME WORKERS UNITE
These groups provide employees with resources about organizing and advocating for their rights. CODE, which operates within the Communication Workers of America union, helped employees at the tech company Glitch organize in March, and assisted the Alphabet Workers Union.
G. COLLECTIVE ACTION IN TECH
A think tank made up of writers and activists—including Clarissa Redwine, one of the organizers of the Kickstarter Union, and Wendy Liu, author of Abolish Silicon Valley— Collective Action in Tech aims to amplify worker stories and support the momentum of the tech workers’ movement.
H. ALPHABET WORKERS UNION
In January, a collective of more than 800 full-time and temporary employees of Google’s parent company, as well as vendors and contractors, joined forces. The group allows employees to voice concerns about Alphabet’s actions, and pressures the company to adhere to its founding principle not to be “evil.”
I. GIG WORKERS RISING/GIG WORKERS COLLECTIVE/ RIDESHARE DRIVERS UNITED/ LOS DELIVERISTAS UNIDOS
Gig economy workers can’t be recognized as unions in the U.S., but these groups are nonetheless organizing to advocate for everything from access to bathrooms and personal protective equipment to transparent pay and disciplinary policies.