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Kickstarter Has Fired Two Union Organizers in Eight Days

46 points by benaiah 7y ago

bbatsell 7y ago
Up to three now: https://twitter.com/taylordotbiz/status/1172260257613123608?s=20 https://twitter.com/taylordotbiz/status/1172260257613123608?...
danielfoster 7y 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 7y 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 7y ago
    https://gizmodo.com/kickstarters-sleazy-union-busting-campaign-is-playing-a-1838078870 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 7y ago
      You're right - out of the many anti-union activities mentioned in your link, that one data point isn't anti-union.
cityzen 7y 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 https://www.nlrb.gov/case/29-CA-248112
- yellowapple 7y ago
  "No docket activity found" when I clicked that link.
  - cityzen 7y ago
    Strange, search for Kickstarter and it should come up
devoply 7y 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 7y ago
They are not living up to their public-benefit corporation status.
sambull 7y ago
Not sure but Mike in the ops team was telling me there were quite a few people chatting internally about it lately

46 points by benaiah 7y ago

Up to three now: https://twitter.com/taylordotbiz/status/1172260257613123608?s=20 https://twitter.com/taylordotbiz/status/1172260257613123608?...

danielfoster 7y 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 7y 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 7y ago
  https://gizmodo.com/kickstarters-sleazy-union-busting-campaign-is-playing-a-1838078870 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 7y ago
    You're right - out of the many anti-union activities mentioned in your link, that one data point isn't anti-union.

cityzen 7y 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 https://www.nlrb.gov/case/29-CA-248112

yellowapple 7y ago
"No docket activity found" when I clicked that link.
- cityzen 7y ago
  Strange, search for Kickstarter and it should come up

devoply 7y 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 7y ago

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

sambull 7y ago

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