London Tech Workers Coalition

An informal network of activists and labour organisers in UK tech. On temporary hiatus as our conveners shift their efforts to @UTAW_uk & @unitelondonitc

[London Tech Workers Coalition @TechWorkersLDN]

hi

if you've followed us/seen our tweets but aren't really sure what we're about, then now is the time to read our new 'zine

https://t.co/HyGIp0e6xT

☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

CEOs love the idea of AI because someone sells it to them as a solution that both cuts costs (in this case, gross employee costs) and *sounds* innovative enough to impress shareholders (and get gently positive media coverage).

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

The real story here is how easily bewitched CEOs are about the capabilities of AI to replace workers.

And, as with most "AI" technology, implementation involves a massive amount of supposedly algorithmic tasks outsourced to low-wage and precarious labour in the developing world.

[Mukhtar @I_amMukhtar]

Auntie Shola said we're not moving on until you pronounce my name right.

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

Fantastic piece by @hamiltonnolan that applies beyond a US context — we’d add that unions in tech can have a special part to play in shaping the AI agenda around the world https://t.co/8Btza9KOAt

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

There’s nothing inevitable about “the way we work” — a more sustainable and equitable future depends on improved worker power, not technological innovation

[TWC Newsletter @twcnewsletter]

“If you ask people working on the frontline, they’re not doing customer support or device repair – they’re making sure somebody buys something that day. That’s the real goal.”

Claire, a user researcher, on why she quit a device insurance company. https://t.co/lvb3LdhS2x

[TWC Newsletter @twcnewsletter]

We just published Why Our Union Contract is Stalled at Code for America https://t.co/FL9e0rOaOx

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

*Adam Curtis voice* the middle managers created Jira metrics to make sense of the world, and to try and control the people who really had the power: the workers

[AI Now Institute @AINowInstitute]

“Language is a living, breathing thing. A computer program doesn’t go out into the world to fact-check what it scraped off the internet.” – @turkopticon workers in @techworkersco on the ChatGPT hype, what it hides, and the people it claims to replace.

https://t.co/R3wzezh4Rp

[TWC Newsletter @twcnewsletter]

We just published “Beware the Hype: ChatGPT Didn't Replace Human Data Annotators” by ⁦@turkopticon⁩ https://t.co/J4wSXF2QZH

[Matt Buckley @_Matt_Buckley]

At @UTAW_uk we're already seeing how AI tools can be used to track, exploit, and discriminate against workers.

This is a backwards and ignorant decision - new legislation is desperately needed if we're to keep pace with the deployment of AI technology in the workplace.

[IWGB Game Workers @IWGB_GW]

Laying off 1 in 20 of your employees while in 'a position of strength'? Game workers need a strong union to challenge unfair redundancies.

If you're in the UK games industry, join our union at https://t.co/ssbH4Ewykv

https://t.co/s8SDpOyJ3h

[TWC Newsletter @twcnewsletter]

“Malcolm @BigMeanInternet urges us stop reminiscing about the 1967 theatrics of levitating the Pentagon and to start retelling the Pentagon bombing and other direct action to dismantle the war machine built by software company leadership.” 👀 https://t.co/FjPKhVXkix

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

Can we normalise unionising across big tech in the UK? ✊

[ADCU @ADCUnion]

Which is the worst paying private hire app operator in London?

[The World Transformed @TWT_NOW]

NEW: We are launching Games Transformed alongside @IWGB_GW & @UTAW_uk!

Starting May 1, join a month long Game Jam & play the entries at a one-day festival of workshops, games & parties on May 28th in London.

❤️Love Games 🎮
🤬Hate capitalism💰

TICKETS: https://t.co/dMT0QwSCJO

[United Tech & Allied Workers (UTAW-CWU) @UTAW_uk]

Thank you @LeftFootFwd and @hannah11dav! We’re in the midst of a crisis — we can only get through it as an organised collective

[IWGB Game Workers @IWGB_GW]

Our union's a support network of game devs in hundreds of companies across the UK. Together we can stick up for each other, and make the industry a better place for everyone.

Join our union at: https://t.co/ssbH4Ex6a3

[London Tech Workers Coalition @TechWorkersLDN]

Great read!

[TWC Newsletter @twcnewsletter]

We just published Layoffs? Come to Italy, We'll Teach You How to Fight https://t.co/QbauSGsMOy

[East Bay DSA 🌹 @DSAEastBay]

We are excited to co-sponsor a book release event for Malcom Harris’ new book, Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World. Harris puts the history of technical advancement in the Bay Area in the lens of labor history and the forces of capital. See you there!