Organizing in Tech

Oftentimes, it’s easy to feel like a cog in a machine while working in tech, especially at large companies. It can feel even more hopeless when you realize how far away governments are from properly regulating your employer. However, we’ve seen some incredible change that’s come out of people within these corporations, joining together to demand for more justice in the industry. From Google to GitHub to Amazon - we’ve seen employees all over the world stand up for better practices. A lot of these movements so far have been spearheaded by Black and trans folx, despite being the most marginalized groups in the tech industry. Unfortunately, too many of these leaders have faced retaliation from their companies for speaking up. As an industry, we cannot allow the burden of change to fall on the most vulnerable shoulders. One defiant cog might not make much of a difference. But many resistant cogs might just have the power to disrupt wayward machinery.

Toolkit

COMMUNICATE
Discovering your allies is a huge first step. Find safe spaces within your company to surface concerns. It might be within an employee resource group. It might be amongst your trusted colleagues. It might be community organizers and academic activists outside of your company. Set up a channel for people to discuss the issue at hand. Figure out safe ways to share knowledge (Signal, Telegram, Slack, etc.). Whether you’re creating a salary-sharing sheet or hosting a forum to discuss experiences, ensure that it is a safe space and that the most marginalized voices are being heard.

QUESTION
If you feel secure in doing so, call out your leadership during a company All Hands or Town Hall, if those spaces exist. Ask them for accountability. Point out the issue at hand. Especially if this is done in a high visibility event within the company, this is also an effective way to get other allies to reach out to you in solidarity.

PETITION
If things need to be escalated, consider writing a letter that clearly states the issue at hand and a series of demands. Ensure that the demands are actionable. Leverage your community of allies to sign onto the cause. There is safety in numbers.

LEAK
Joining forces with journalists can provide momentum and pressure on leadership. Especially if your company is secretly conducting itself in unethical manners, it is crucial to shine a spotlight on problematic behavior. Note: there can be repercussions for leaking confidential material. You or others may get scapegoated and punished by your company. These consequences should be factored in your decision making.

WALKOUT
If questioning, petitioning, and leaking haven’t worked, perhaps it’s time to escalate tactics. Walking out in solidarity for your cause can send a powerful message to company leadership, media, regulatory bodies, and consumers. Consider the timing of the walkout, as well as the actions taken during the walkout (creating posters/signs, yelling chants, talking to media, etc.). Note: there can be repercussions for walking out. You or others may get scapegoated and punished by your company. These consequences should be factored in your decision making.

UNIONIZE
There has been an incredible increase in the number of unions emerging at various tech companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, and many others. A full list can be found at Tech Workers Coalition, which is a great starting resource to see connect with other organizers in the tech industry who care about creating meaningful, grassroots change. Labor unions can be traced back to the 18th century, and served as a powerful bargaining tool to gain better rights for workers in a variety of industries. It is about time that unions started gaining momentum in the tech industry, especially to protect workers from retaliation after speaking out against problematic practices within their corporations.