Big Cartel Staff Unionize Voluntarily

Big Cartel Workers Union Gains Voluntary Recognition

The co-founders of e-commerce platform Big Cartel, Matt Wigham and Eric Turner, have given their consent for the formation of the Big Cartel Workers Union. Contract negotiations will commence after the new year for the union, which encompasses all 30 non-management personnel at the Salt Lake City-based technology firm.

This development arrives less than nine months following the ratification of the tech sector’s inaugural collective bargaining agreement by employees at the software company Glitch.

Union Representation

The Big Cartel Workers Union will be represented by OPEIU Tech Workers Union Local 1010 – the Office and Professional Employees International Union. This is the same organization providing representation to unions established at Kickstarter and Code for America.

Andrew Shaw, a marketing employee at Big Cartel for the past two years, expressed optimism, stating, “It’s evident that Big Cartel’s founders are committed to the success of this union and recognize the alignment of our core principles.” He anticipates a smooth and efficient bargaining process, serving as a positive model for future unionization efforts within the tech industry.

Proactive Unionization

Unlike many union drives triggered by specific crises, the movement at Big Cartel originated from a proactive desire to solidify and reinforce existing workplace safeguards.

Shaw explained, “The aim is to establish protections for aspects of our working conditions that we highly value. This includes ensuring equitable and consistent compensation across genders, ethnicities, and teams, as well as guaranteeing our benefits through a formal contract.” He further emphasized the union’s interest in increased transparency and greater employee involvement in company decision-making.

First Tech Union in a “Right-to-Work” State

The Big Cartel Workers Union will also be the first of its kind within a “right-to-work” state. According to the OPEIU, twenty-seven states currently have such laws in place.

These laws prohibit agreements between employers and unions that require employees to join a union or contribute union dues. While intended to protect individual choice, these policies can sometimes present challenges to union formation.

“Frequently, discussions regarding benefits arise informally, or require individual disputes to resolve details,” Shaw noted. “I am encouraged by the prospect of addressing these matters without the need for conflict or a sense of immediate crisis.”

Contrasting Situations

Currently, employees at video game developer Activision Blizzard are facing a more pressing “crisis moment.” The company, responsible for titles like “World of Warcraft” and “Call of Duty,” is facing legal action from state labor regulators regarding discriminatory practices. Additionally, the SEC is conducting an investigation.

Over a thousand Activision Blizzard employees have signed a petition calling for the removal of CEO Bobby Kotick, following reports of alleged cover-ups of sexual assault allegations. A group known as A Better ABK recently initiated an indefinite strike and a unionization campaign, with executives warning employees about the potential repercussions of union membership.

Challenges in Tech Unionization

Even in less severe circumstances, the path to unionization can be arduous for tech workers. When employees at Kickstarter formed a union in 2019, company leadership initially declined to voluntarily recognize the union.

Without voluntary recognition, organizers must proceed with an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Kickstarter union’s election process took ten months to complete before a successful vote to unionize.

Recently, workers at the Citizen crime-tracking app voted to unionize, more than a year after initial unionization efforts began. A Citizen spokesperson previously expressed opposition to the union drive to the New York Post.

Inspiring Future Efforts

“We are certainly motivated by the achievements of our colleagues at Code for America and Kickstarter,” Shaw stated. “We hope our work will inspire others, ensuring that workers across all industries and companies are protected and treated with fairness.”