The Changing Tide in Tech Labor
For years, tech professionals saw themselves as a privileged class—highly educated, well-paid, and in demand. Unions were for factory workers, not coders. But mass layoffs, disillusionment with Big Tech's direction, and the looming threat of AI displacement have sparked a surge in union interest.
Zak Thompson, a senior software engineer at Kickstarter and union steward, notes: "They considered themselves above unions." Now, that's changing.
Why Tech Workers Are Turning to Unions
Three key drivers are fueling this shift:
- Job Security: Since 2022, widespread layoffs have shattered the illusion of stable tech employment. Alan McAvinney, a Google software engineer and organizing chair of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA, says: "That has dramatically shifted the balance of power."
- Ideological Disillusionment: Many workers recruited with promises of changing the world found themselves building surveillance systems or military tech. Kate Bronfenbrenner, labor expert at Cornell, highlights this disconnect.
- AI Anxiety: The fear that AI will replace tech jobs is palpable. Simone Robutti of Tech Workers Coalition Global calls current layoffs "a prequel to whatever AI-driven layoffs are coming."
The Numbers: Interest vs. Membership
Despite rising interest—67% of tech professionals in a 2024 Blind survey said they'd likely join a union—actual membership remains low at about 3.5% in tech occupations (US Census Bureau, 2025). Overall US union membership is just 10%, near an all-time low. Yet, 68% of Americans approve of unions (Gallup, 2025), up from 48% in 2009.
Success Stories and Setbacks
Some notable wins include:
- Kickstarter United: 85 employees voted to unionize in 2020, securing a contract with a four-day workweek, AI protections, and minimum pay floors.
- Google DeepMind: 300 London workers joined the Communication Workers Union, with 98% voting for recognition.
- University of California: 2,100 tech workers voted to join UPTE-CWA in May 2025, called "the largest tech industry organizing campaign in US history."
But challenges persist. Kickstarter faced layoffs and a 42-day strike. The Alphabet Workers Union remains a "pre-majority" union without NLRB certification, representing just 1,400 of Alphabet's 100,000+ US workers.
The Counterargument
Critics like Liya Palagashvili of George Mason University argue unions are ill-suited for tech's dynamic nature: "Firms often need to reorganize teams, redesign products, adjust roles, and redeploy talent quickly." She claims collective bargaining agreements impose rigid pay structures and limit flexibility.
However, Thompson counters: "The thing with a union is you get to write the contract. At Kickstarter we care about recognizing individual contributions, merit, and having a clear career progression."
The Road Ahead
Organizing tech giants won't happen overnight. Bronfenbrenner notes: "The auto and steel industries weren't organized in months. It took decades." Yet, attitudes are shifting. McAvinney says: "Now is an excellent time for people to start getting organized." Thompson adds: "We're definitely seeing a shift from 'it'd be nice if we had a union' to 'okay, how can I actually do this now?'"
Stay tuned for Part 2: How to unionize your tech workplace.
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