Microsoft Announces Neutrality Pledge, Making it Easier for Workers to Unionize
The pledge is unprecedented for Big Tech and makes it easier for roughly 100,000 workers to unionize.
Major Gains for Organized Labor
Punctuating a year of major gains for organized labor, Microsoft has announced that it will stay neutral if any group of U.S.-based workers seeks to unionize.
Eligibility for Unionization
Roughly 100,000 workers would be eligible to unionize under the framework, which was disclosed Monday by Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. president, Liz Shuler, during a forum at the labor federation’s headquarters in Washington.
Expanding Neutrality Agreement
The deal effectively broadens a neutrality agreement between Microsoft and a large union, the Communications Workers of America, under which hundreds of the company’s video game workers unionized early this year without a formal National Labor Relations Board election. Officially, it provides a framework in which any group of Microsoft workers can negotiate their own neutrality agreements with similar terms.
Collaboration on Artificial Intelligence
As part of Monday’s announcement, Microsoft and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. said they would collaborate to resolve issues that arise from the adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Microsoft has made an unprecedented pledge to stay neutral if any group of U.S.-based workers seeks to unionize. This announcement comes after a year of major gains for organized labor. The pledge makes it easier for roughly 100,000 workers to unionize.
Eligibility for Unionization
Roughly 100,000 workers would be eligible to unionize under the framework disclosed by Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. president, Liz Shuler. The announcement was made during a forum at the labor federation’s headquarters in Washington.
Expanding Neutrality Agreement
The deal expands a neutrality agreement between Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America, a large union. This agreement allowed hundreds of the company’s video game workers to unionize earlier this year without a formal National Labor Relations Board election. The new framework enables any group of Microsoft workers to negotiate their own neutrality agreements with similar terms.
Collaboration on Artificial Intelligence
In addition to the neutrality pledge, Microsoft and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. have announced their collaboration to address issues that may arise from the adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
By making this pledge, Microsoft is setting a new precedent for Big Tech companies and demonstrating its commitment to supporting workers’ rights to unionize.
