BIG TECH UNIONIZING

The following is a letter to the editor of the New York Times from Liz Shuler, National AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer.

To the Editor:

Re “A Union Will Make Google Better,” by Parul Koul and Chewy Shaw (Op-Ed, Jan. 5):

Workers at Google and other Alphabet companies have started the Alphabet Workers Union, in partnership with the Communications Workers of America. This is a breakthrough. It includes all workers. It follows union victories at Kickstarter and Glitch. This is Labor 2.0.

Unions are for everyone, in every field. That’s why the labor movement is working to organize Big Tech and fighting for a fair and equitable future of work, in every sector. The A.F.L.-C.I.O. is even starting a technology institute, to leverage innovation for the labor movement, because the benefits of technology should create prosperity and security for everyone, not just the wealthy and powerful.

Challenging corporate power alone is a vulnerable place to be, but together with their union, workers can be a check on that power. Their faith in the right to organize is inspiring.

Liz Shuler Washington The writer is secretary-treasurer of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.