A must-read piece from a tech worker at Google, arguing for a worker-led “AI arms embargo”: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/google-employee-speaks-out-war-contracting/
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I am downright delighted to announce that my latest book, YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION, has a brand new look. I really love it, and I hope you do too.
Here’s a look at what’s changed and—maybe more importantly—what’s stayed the same:
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/refresh-a-new-look-for-you-deserve-a-tech-union/
ethanmarcotte.comRefresh. — ethanmarcotte.com
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Ethan Marcotte
“Today, Alphabet Workers Union-CWA members on the Google Help team secured a first collective contract with Google vendor Accenture, becoming the first group of AWU-CWA represented workers to bargain a collective contract and only the second group of Google office workers ever to do so.”
www.alphabetworkersunion.orgGoogle Help Workers Ratify Collective Contract With Accenture, First In Alphabet Workers Union-CWA HistoryDec 18, 2024 - Press Release from AWU-CWA
Always remember that advances in “artificial intelligence” are driven directly by exploited human labor: specifically, by underpaid contractors working under tremendous precarity, often while reviewing horribly traumatizing content:
(cw: descriptions of having viewed violent, extreme content; discussion of resulting trauma by those who viewed it)
Antwortete Ethan Marcotte
The New York Times Tech Guild is officially on strike: washingtonpost.com/style/media... #unions #TechUnions #TechLabor #1u@beep@follow.ethanmarcotte.com
The New York Times Tech Guild is officially on strike: https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/11/04/new-york-times-tech-strike-walkout/
The Washington Post · New York Times Tech Guild goes on strike
“The Tech Guild says Times management bargained for only seven hours in September, what they considered insufficient to reaching a deal.”
Some good coverage from @washingtonpost on the @NYTGuildTech’s strike threat: https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/10/23/new-york-times-tech-guild-strike/
The Washington Post · What happens if the NYT’s tech staff strikes on election night?
BABY’S FIRST RADIO INTERVIEW! I had a wonderful time on KKFI’s Heartland Labor Forum, getting interviewed about tech unions, who gets to be a “tech worker,” and — you guessed it — YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION:
Taking Mastodon for another test drive… what’s the best way to find people to follow? Should I join a server specific to my interests? Search tags? I’m mostly here for tech/FOSS and left labor. #1u #TechLabor #FOSS
Last year, I wrote a book called YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION; several months later, my publisher decided to close its doors.
This is a post about what happens next: https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/reacquired/
ethanmarcotte.comReacquired. — ethanmarcotte.comLast year, I wrote a book. Several months later, my publisher closed its doors. This is about what happens next.
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL NEWS: https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/bethesda-game-studios-union-ZDA3AQGAPVDD3EEPAGBC5V6XJA/
“Workers at Maryland-based Bethesda Game Studios, the company behind blockbuster games such as ‘Starfield,’ the ‘Elder Scrolls’ series and the ‘Fallout’ series, have formed a union, according to the Communications Workers of America.”
The Baltimore Banner · Maryland-based Bethesda Game Studios employees unionizeThe workers at Bethesda Game Studios now represent the first wall-to-wall union at a Microsoft video game studio, according to the union.
”In [management’s] view, the mere act of attending the meeting was enough to demonstrate their good faith. Instead, they inadvertently made the union’s case clear: that if we do not push, we will not receive; that if we choose not to speak, we will never be heard.”
A wonderful essay from @jalcine, with background on how CfA Workers United fought for — and together, how they *won* — their first contract. https://www.kernelmag.io/4/labor-luck
Kernel MagazineKernel | A Labor of LuckIt’s July 13, 2023 on a hot Florida day. I’m on a Zoom call with the rest of the bargaining committee of Code for America (Cf...
New from me over at WBUR: I wrote about the workers’ letter that likely saved Sam Altman’s job at OpenAI, and my complicated feelings about it. https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2023/12/06/artificial-intelligence-tech-workers-collective-action-sam-altman-ethan-marcotte
WBUR · OpenAI is a threat to labor, but its employees staged one of the most successful collective actions in tech | Cognoscenti
“A spokesperson for OpenAI said no one was available to answer questions about its use of AI contractors.”
NBC NewsOpenAI contractors make $15 to train ChatGPT
Code for America’s leadership is engaging in some pretty heinous union busting. Here’s @cfaworkers on what’s happening, and how you can support their workers: https://union.place/@cfaworkers/110260332098409793
The Union PlaceCfA Workers United (@cfaworkers@union.place)It's time to talk about ✨ union busting ✨!
Code for America leadership has unilaterally stripped our colleagues of union protections and canceled negotiations. Stand with workers and sign onto our petition at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/cfawu-return-to-bargaining!