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US ‘big tech’ and organised workers will clash

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Subject

Organised workers and 'big tech'.

Significance

Given the US big tech’s high margins and large numbers of support staff, labour unions have made some inroads in organising their contract staff such as drivers, security guards and cafeteria workers. Tech companies have also seen increases in employee activism such as walkouts, although this has stopped short of full unionisation drives.

Impacts

  • The spread of the gig economy will sharpen political scrutiny of corporate practices on employee rights.
  • Democratic politicians, in particular, will struggle to court both big tech and unions.
  • Firms will partner with the NLRB, where possible, to prevent employees from using internal emails and messaging apps to stage strikes.

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