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This is the wildest labor story I've written. It's about Kickstarter, which portrayed itself as the most progressive tech company in the biz, and its tactics to quash its union. Sources say the union drive has well over a majority of staff ready to join https://t.co/Jk8M6nw4JN
— april glaser (@aprilaser) September 13, 2019
This is completely outrageous and antithetical to every value for which @kickstarter claims to stand. Taylor helped me and thousands more find a voice and a path forward as creators, and he and all the other laborers at Kickstarter deserve the right to collectively bargain. https://t.co/witjHMecyy
— Brennan Lee Mulligan (@BrennanLM) September 12, 2019
I hope Kickstarter gets horrifically sued and has to start a Gofundme to cover legal costs https://t.co/SjMzDZiYDK
— Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) September 12, 2019
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that any company that claims “a union is not right for them” is a place that needs a union to represent employees https://t.co/xerGBhALBQ
— Chris Hartjes (@grmpyprogrammer) September 12, 2019
Beware the company that thinks it’s doing a “public benefit” while treating their employees poorly. Solidarity with my former colleagues. https://t.co/sHbedr4a1p
— Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) September 12, 2019
kickstarter idea: some kind of public education campaign to explain to silicon valley that union busting and legalistic acrobatics to avoid paying people liveable wages isn’t disruptive, it’s *just* regular ole exploitation https://t.co/dqTJMVYREM
— Lindsey Barrett (@LAM_Barrett) September 12, 2019
Looks like @kickstarter is ramping up its union-busting efforts by firing organizers and fostering a hostile work environment for workers involved in the union drive. The company refused to voluntarily recognize the union back in May. @aprilaser reports: https://t.co/WZcjBJYIjO
— Kim Kelly (@GrimKim) September 12, 2019
Kickstarter fired my friend for trying to start a union and blamed it on "performance-related issues" which is TRULY the LOL MOMENT OF THE DAY. https://t.co/201ifLzaM6
— Brett White (@brettwhite) September 12, 2019
This morning, after six years of pouring my life into the mission, the staff, and the creators of @kickstarter, I was fired for organizing a union. They offered me no real reasons, but one month's severance for signing an NDA.
— Not the Mama (@taylordotbiz) September 12, 2019
I will not be signing it.
“Multiple former and current employees familiar with the incident told me that managers warned the Trust and Safety team not to question their decisions...” https://t.co/2rdyBgGu2X
— Kevin Riggle (@kevinriggle) September 13, 2019
The union drive at Kickstarter began quietly after leadership made a "both-sides" call to take down a satirical comic called "Always Punch Nazis." Since the union went public, Kickstarter has tried hard to dissuade the union. At least two have been fired https://t.co/Jk8M6nw4JN
— april glaser (@aprilaser) September 13, 2019
Kickstarter employees are organizing.
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) September 13, 2019
It started with a comic book about punching Nazis. https://t.co/XAAcyX26np
Important piece by @aprilaser on organizing at Kickstarter. Particularly interesting to me is how dynamics set in motion by the Trump election helped convince tech workers they needed more control over their workplaces, a major theme of the wider movement https://t.co/Slf5cIPOFY
— Ben Tarnoff (@bentarnoff) September 13, 2019
This is troubling. I really believed Kickstarter was trying to be different. https://t.co/i3J7kKZKgt
— Tobias S. Buckell (@tobiasbuckell) September 12, 2019
This is a solid and balanced article from @aprilaser about Kickstarter employees’ efforts to unionize and the resistance they’re facing from management. https://t.co/i21plrmdjH
— Andy Baio (@waxpancake) September 13, 2019
This is an amazing scoop by @aprilaser on the hypocrisies and anti-worker actions of a tech company that once had an idealistic mission..all amidst an organizing effort by workers who wanted Kickstarter to do better.
— Veena Dubal (@veenadubal) September 13, 2019
https://t.co/UECj3MG6fv
the cultivation, community outreach, and care that taylor provided on behalf of kickstarter and their supposed guiding principles was remarkable. this is repugnant, and shows that kickstarter cares nothing of the creative values they have co-opted for a 5% fee. unionize. https://t.co/BWBpNvyEOU
— dan chamberlain (@amfmpm) September 12, 2019
phenomenal reporting from @aprilaser on Kickstarter’s union busting fiasco https://t.co/mWUqEY3l82
— Alison Macrina (@flexlibris) September 13, 2019
I worked at Kickstarter for 3.5 years. Solidarity with my former colleagues.
— David Peter (@davidnoob) September 13, 2019
Last week at XOXO, @EmmaKinema talked about unions and how important Kickstarter's would be. The Kickstarter CEO sat a row up from me. I wonder what he took away from the talk. https://t.co/66XycKLEZt
Kickstarter: "Kickstarter: The Power of the Crowd"
— N@ (@empiricallyric) September 12, 2019
Kickstarter employees: *unionize*
Kickstarter: no not like that https://t.co/LNWH7yoSjz
I spoke to a former Kickstarter employee who says she was fired last week for union organizing. She would have had to give up all legal claims and agree to an NDA if she wanted any severance https://t.co/GFbSLcZdJB
— Dave Jamieson (@jamieson) September 12, 2019
SCOOP: Kickstarter has fired two union organizers in the past 8 days. In July, another member of the union drive quit, citing a hostile work environment for union organizers https://t.co/HRm3VEUiIl
— april glaser (@aprilaser) September 12, 2019
Why do tech workers need unions?https://t.co/AsHcMbwg0M
— Senior Oops Engineer (@ReinH) September 13, 2019
Kickstarter faces union backlash after firing two organizers https://t.co/W48fZeU89q pic.twitter.com/KbMWnCMQwj
— The Verge (@verge) September 12, 2019
Here is more background on the story: https://t.co/AlTayq8HJA Union politics can be complex, but Kickstarter needs to realize that what they're doing here is bad for their workers and their customer base's trust in them.
— Adam Conover (@adamconover) September 13, 2019
Kickstarter employees are organizing.
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) September 13, 2019
It started with a comic book about punching Nazis. https://t.co/XAAcyX26np
“If the drive succeeds, Kickstarter United would be the first white-collar union at a well-known tech company.”
— Librarianshipwreck (@libshipwreck) September 13, 2019
Nobody should be running or supporting Kickstarter campaigns while the company is engaged in union busting.
Important reporting by @aprilaser:https://t.co/mhTJA7hf3a
SO WHOLE KICKSTARTER GREEDY EVIL DUMB DUMBS THING START WITH CAVE TO NAZIS?
— FAKEGRIMLOCK (@FAKEGRIMLOCK) September 13, 2019
IT ALWAYS START WITH NAZIS.
FUCK THOSE GUYS.https://t.co/NskeImjkDH
Shame on you, @kickstarter #UnionBustingisDisgusting https://t.co/yQOG2kez3d
— Steve Smith (@ssmith_calabor) September 13, 2019
I support unions and I think the time has come for tech unions. What is happening @kickstarter is unacceptable. I am going to avoid that platform from now on and I encourage others to do the same. https://t.co/5lGLI7VQpq
— Katherine Scott (@kscottz) September 13, 2019
True story: from Nov 18 to ~ a month ago, I was afraid to tweet (or fave!) anything too spicy. Why? My employer's comms director followed me on Twitter.
— Alex Kennedy (@alexksays) September 12, 2019
*clears throat*https://t.co/vWoRcgH5ne
Kickstarter employees say they were fired for union organizing: https://t.co/Lu010MQLEB pic.twitter.com/qmk43aeu80
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) September 12, 2019
I really like this project, but I'm not sending anything to @kickstarter anymore. Can he use @Indiegogo instead? https://t.co/GokUffhBpz
— Mirar (@Mirarkitty) September 13, 2019
Firing union organizers? That’s a Branson No-No! Firing my friend? Also a Branson No-No. Firing my friend FOR union organizing? Baby you KNOW that’s a Branson No-No! https://t.co/X6M49DfMLk
— Brans Car Reeser (@bransonreese) September 14, 2019
Here's @aprilaser's full, deeply reported piece on unionization and turmoil at Kickstarter—and what happens when an altruistic company's workers lose faith. https://t.co/FleR0qo8BE
— Jonathan L. Fischer (@jon_fischer) September 13, 2019
In case anyone hasn’t seen yet and wants the scoop - https://t.co/hJvZqqO4ca
— Lewd Alfred?Douglas (@HisMajesty) September 13, 2019