Unions, Class, and Power in the Tech Industry.

This article examines the growing trend of unionization among tech workers in the United States. It acknowledges the significant power that tech workers possess in both their workplaces and the broader economy. The article compares the organizing efforts of tech workers to historical labor movements in other industries and discusses the challenges they face due to the industry's resistance to unions. Despite these obstacles, there has been a noticeable increase in tech worker organizing, resulting in thousands of workers joining unions and securing collective bargaining agreements. However, this represents only a small portion of the overall tech industry. The article explores the potential for a tech worker movement, highlighting the development of networks and shared narratives among tech workers, as well as instances of worker activism and unionization efforts. It also delves into different theories of class, such as the Professional-Managerial Class (PMC) and Contradictory Class Locations, and emphasizes the importance of addressing issues like compensation and job security in tech worker mobilizations. The article discusses the transformation of worker consciousness and the unique challenges of organizing in the tech industry. It identifies progressive workforces and lower-paid workers as potential strongholds for majority unionism in tech. Lastly, the article draws parallels between tech workers and autoworkers in the historical labor movement and considers the possibility of industry-wide settlements in the tech industry. [Extracted from the article]