Kickstarter United workers will strike beginning October 2
Demands include enshrining the four-day, 32-hour work week in their contract.
Kickstarter United has announced that a majority of its members has voted to authorize a labor strike, beginning October 2, if a resolution over the workers’ second contract with Kickstarter management cannot be reached. Represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, Kickstarter United members have been negotiating the contract since April, with the union proposing to enshrine Kickstarter’s four-day, 32-hour work week, as well as establish a minimum, livable salary into their collective agreement. The existing contract with the popular crowdfunding platform and public benefit corporation had expired in July.
In an email to Rascal, a Kickstarter United spokesperson said that Kickstarter management had insisted the company will not agree to a four day work week, while rejecting every proposal for a minimum salary. “They would like the unilateral power to change working hours back to a five day work week if a business need arises (‘business need’ of course being up to the discretion of management) — without any compensation for the additional labor hours,” they said. “That’s not how it works with a union. Working hours are a mandatory subject of bargaining — and what we’re seeing is management trying to opt out of this and maintain their unilateral power to increase working hours without any compensation.”
In 2020, the formation of Kickstarter United was a watershed moment for the technology labor movement, which marked Kickstarter as the first notable tech company to organize. While not a tabletop business, the company has become a key pillar of the industry, given the prevalence of tabletop roleplaying campaigns on the crowdfunding platform. As reported by The Verge, unionization efforts sprouted from an internal disagreement over the removal of a satirical comic called “Always Punch Nazis” from the platform. Pressure from employees eventually led to the comic’s reinstatement, which sparked a growing movement among Kickstarter workers to pursue organizing — amidst accusations of union busting within the company in 2019. Rascal has reached out to Kickstarter for more details.
"They would like the unilateral power to change working hours back to a five day work week if a business need arises."
Kickstarter United believes that this movement is more pivotal than ever, given the expansion of AI, rampant inflation, and widening wealth inequality in the United States. “The labor movement is at its strongest when it’s paving the way for working-class people to live full, healthy lives outside of work. Our union is prepared to step out on strike to maintain our union’s collective power to negotiate over working hours if that is what it takes,” said the spokesperson. They shared that there is another negotiation taking place on October 1, and they are prepared to carry the session out “all night if needed to avoid a strike on Thursday”.
The union has shared a community pledge, which has seen 2,802 letters being written and sent to Kickstarter management and board members, including Everette Taylor, Chief Executive Officer and Brian McMurry, Director of Product and Engineering. At the same time, a solidarity fund has also been set up, with proceeds from the fund benefiting Kickstarter United members in the event of a strike. Kickstarter creators are also encouraged to contact the union directly for creator-specific ways to support the workers.
