Hey Devs, happy Friday 🦥💚
As always, it's been an eventful week in the tech industry. We've got a lot to talk about! And today I want to discuss...labor unions in the tech industry.
Labor unions are on the rise in the United States, from the WGA and SAG strikes in the entertainment industry to the growth of unions in the healthcare, education, and service industries in the post-COVID era. And they're starting to make some waves in tech, too.
Push to unionize tech industry makes advances
Recent organizing pushes among YouTube contractors and Sega of America workers have made fresh inroads.
axios.com
The technology industry is relatively new compared to commonly unionized industries (such as entertainment, automotive, and the trades). It's also fast-paced and quickly evolving. For these reasons, the early history of tech unions is still being written.
The idea of unionizing tech workers also hinges on who counts as a "tech worker." Check out this article from Axios:
2022 was tech's biggest year yet for labor unions and workplace organizing
But unions had their greatest wins on the industry's fringes, in Amazon warehouses, Apple stores and game studios..
axios.com
So far, tech's labor activism has largely moved on the margins of the industry, with Amazon warehouse workers, Apple Store employees and video game QA testers leading organizing efforts, while engineers, product teams and other headquarters staff mostly shied away.
So, what do you think? Is it time for tech workers to unionize? How might software developers organize to improve our industry together? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
Want to submit a question for discussion, or even ask for advice? Visit Sloan's Inbox! You can choose to remain anonymous.
