I never understand why “tech workers” are using not self hosted software to organize themself. I love the idea but the URL shortener links in the Pic and the zoom links in the description, are giving me a lot of concerns…
Because self-hosting adds complexity and friction, something that impact-oriented organizations might not be able to afford. TWC uses self hosting on more sensitive data anyway, just not on these tools.
I understand the point, but still, why URL shortener?
And why not using some tools from the EU instead which with privacy concerns.
I mean I am willing to pay for such organisations and TWC could (or maybe should) unionize and then they could also pay for a service instead using all data grabbing free tools.
For me for example the hurdle was that they use telegram instead a forum for example. I dont want to give my phone number anyone.
People don’t use forums anymore. Union organizing requires big numbers and being comfortable with being visible.
The URL shortener for sure could be addressed and I invite you to join and contribute to improve that part of the stack. Nonetheless, TWC is not a hacker space or a space for tech experts. You need to use the tools people already use and meet them where they are at. Using niche tools people are not familiar with introduces friction and barriers, that filter out people without tech skills, or without the attention and time to learn a new tool and incorporate it in their routines. Most tech workers are not programmers, remember that. Also people who are too privacy-focused and tech-focused tend to be bad organizers: union organizing implies risks and exposure, and you have to be comfortable with that, while privacy-focused people want to minimize individual risk by staying hidden. For sure privacy of your communication from the employer or the government plays an important role, because it might give sensitive information to your enemy, but if retaining privacy prevents you from having impact, it’s pointless to even start.
Who are the organizers?
The Global chapter of Tech Workers Coalition
So … USA tech workers only?
Their website lists several international chapters
https://techworkerscoalition.org/
That said, their website could use a lot of work to better describe who they are, what they do, and what their goals are.
The Session A time zone is good for Europeans too. Session B I guess could work for East Asia.
Why do you see this as USA-only?
Why do you see this as USA only?
Because the announcement doesn’t use UTC to announce the event and there’s absolutely no chance that anyone outside the US knows when some random timezone is, or if daylight savings is active in that timezone or not at the time of the event.
The announcement also tells me that the organisation is run out of the USA, not a place universally known for its inclusivity or global consideration. Reinforced by a text only image with no alt text.
I think a tech workers coalition is an interesting and potentially useful idea, but the announcement doesn’t even contain a URL to the organisation.
Which leads to my conclusion, a USA only affair.
I’d be delighted to be wrong, but that’s what the announcement conveyed to me.
I’m part of TWC and the organization of this call and I’m Italian. There are different timezones but it’s obviously hard to include all of them. Including UTC wouldn’t help most people.
The very fact that there are two events for two distinct timezones doesn’t suggest there’s an attempt to reach out to a bigger crowd?
