Union advocates say discrimination faced by women and people of color at the tech companies proves the need for stronger worker protections. But even if unionization efforts don’t take hold among the majority of tech workers, the fact that the conversation is happening marks a real change of attitude in Silicon Valley. Perhaps the surest sign that Big Tech thinks unions can have a substantial impact is found in the companies’ responses. Efforts to reclassify gig workers as employees have been stymied by division among Democrats and tremendous pressure from multibillion-dollar tech companies. Meanwhile, a group of gig workers and unions has filed a lawsuit in California Supreme Court to have Proposition 22 overturned.

Source: Washington Post January 26, 2021 12:03 UTC