The Emerging Union Landscape in Silicon Valley

Historically, labor unions have had a limited presence within Silicon Valley. However, recent developments indicate a shift, with prominent companies such as Google and Kickstarter initiating steps towards unionization. Furthermore, Glitch, a smaller startup, recently achieved a milestone by ratifying a collective bargaining agreement – marking the first instance of a software engineering team to do so.

Simultaneously, Amazon warehouse personnel in Alabama are currently poised to potentially establish their own groundbreaking union. This panel discussion, originating from TC Sessions: Justice, delves into the factors driving this change, anticipates future developments, and outlines actionable steps for tech employees.

Examining the Current Momentum

Similar to management approaches throughout history, technology firms have consistently resisted labor organization efforts. Nevertheless, the past two years may have witnessed a critical threshold being reached, potentially signaling a fundamental transformation within the industry.

Clarissa Redwine (NYU):

Parul Koul (Google):

• Google and Alphabet employees are actively pursuing unionization.
• The online code collaboration platform, Glitch, has successfully voted to unionize.

The Pandemic's Influence on Organizing Efforts

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the dynamics of work – both in terms of location and methodology. This disruption has impacted numerous industries and resulted in widespread job losses. Could this pandemic serve as another pivotal moment for the burgeoning labor movement?

Union Protection Against Layoffs

Layoffs have become a common occurrence across many sectors during the pandemic. Even in instances where employees have successfully unionized, these reductions in force have continued. Therefore, the central question becomes: to what extent does a union provide workers with protection against layoffs?

Grace Reckers (Office and Professional Employees International Union):

• Workers at Kickstarter have voted in favor of unionization.
• Following the unionization vote, Glitch has signed a collective bargaining agreement.

Initiating the Unionization Process

The initial stages of unionization are often challenging, particularly in environments where organizing is discouraged by management. Initial discussions frequently occur outside of work hours and off-the-clock, due to concerns about potential repercussions. This can be especially difficult for white-collar tech employees who may not fully appreciate the advantages of collective organizing.

• An assessment of the current state of unions.
• Amazon warehouse workers are preparing to begin a historic vote regarding unionization.

Interpreting Management Support

Following challenging organizing campaigns, management frequently expresses support for unions. In light of endorsements from certain tech leaders and political figures like Joe Biden, it is important to consider whether such statements could ultimately have detrimental effects on organizing initiatives.

The complete transcript of the discussion is available for review here.

Related sessions from TechCrunch Sessions: Justice:

• Exploring the future for essential workers.

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