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Kickstarter Has Fired Two Union Organizers in Eight Days

slate.com

46 points by benaiah 6 years ago · 11 comments

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bbatsell 6 years ago

Up to three now: https://twitter.com/taylordotbiz/status/1172260257613123608?...

danielfoster 6 years ago

There's been talk of forming a union for quite some time at Kickstarter-- the story first broke in March. The CEO has already said he would respect a secret vote. Why hasn't this occurred?

I question if there's a genuine need or desire among employees to unionize.If Kickstarter truly were a house of horrors, you'd think employees would be rushing to hold a vote.

My guess is that employee support for a union is tepid at best.

  • deogeo 6 years ago

    > Why hasn't this occurred?

    Maybe because they keep firing union organizers?

    > I question if there's a genuine need or desire among employees to unionize.If Kickstarter truly were a house of horrors [..]

    When two companies not on the verge of bankruptcy merge, do you also "question if there's a genuine need" for the merger? Or is it only when labor organizes that they have to justify it to some arbitrary 'house of horrors' standard, while capital can organize and consolidate as it wishes, and face no criticism?

    • danielfoster 6 years ago

      https://gizmodo.com/kickstarters-sleazy-union-busting-campai...

      According to Kickstarter: "On retaliation: In May, 28 staff members put their names on a statement supporting the union efforts. Fifteen of those staff members were on a cycle that made them eligible for mid-year raises or promotions. Fourteen out of those 15 received a merit-based raise, and three were promoted. That’s not the behavior of a company that is looking to punish union supporters."

      • deogeo 6 years ago

        You're right - out of the many anti-union activities mentioned in your link, that one data point isn't anti-union.

cityzen 6 years ago

According to the National Labor Relations Board:

The law protects the right of employees to engage in protected concerted activities-group action to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions and to engage in union activities and support a union.

Looks like someone filed a complaint... TODAY!

https://www.nlrb.gov/case/29-CA-248112

devoply 6 years ago

I would think 3 would be plenty for a lawsuit that forces kickstarter to hire them back so they can complete their work :P Can you still organize a union in a company after being fired from it? I would make it my life mission if I were in their place for the principle of the thing.

Apocryphon 6 years ago

They are not living up to their public-benefit corporation status.

sambull 6 years ago

Not sure but Mike in the ops team was telling me there were quite a few people chatting internally about it lately

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