Organizing Your Workplace

You have the right to talk to your coworkers about your shared working conditions and take action to change them. Organize with peers to make change in your workplace.

We also reccomend checking out The DAIR Institute's Luddite Lab for more resources, especially for concerns related to AI and automation.

Organizing a group of workers means planning and agreeing to work towards a common goal.

The suggestions we provide below are protected activities, meaning your employer has no right to punish you for taking part in them. However, employers do not always respect this right. You should be aware that your employer may choose to retaliate against you for organizing. Although, you should also be aware that said retaliation is illegal.

Petitions

Petitions can help you gain support on issues in the workplace.

Look for potentially relevant petitions on Coworker.org or the Action Network.

As an alternative, consider creating a petition to gain support for your concerns. Use this resource to learn how to create a successful petition: How to Organize an Effective Petition Campaign.

Here are a few example petitions:

Unionizing

Organizing a group of workers means planning and agreeing to work towards a common goal.

Consider starting or joining a union to act as a unified voice for you and your coworkers. This can help you engage in collective bargaining to reach agreements with employers that benefit all members.

Need more reason why joining a union will support you and your labor: 9 Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Union.

West Virginia teachers' union fighting against the use of Go365 which tracks their steps and other wellness measurements.

The app uses the data collected for a point-scoring system and penalizes workers who either do not earn enough points or refuse to download the app.

How to talk to your coworkers about unionizing?:

Find a labor union near you.

How to protect yourself against surveillance through a union contract:

Worker Centers

Your local worker center can provide you with advice and support to address your work related concerns. Consider using the resources provide below to identify a local worker center that matches your needs as a worker.

Protesting

You could also consider participating in a protest or organizing one yourself.

More about your rights with regard to Strikes, Pickets, and Protest.

Truckers protested against Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires truckers to use electronic monitoring devices which connects to the engine of the truck and tracks speed, manages the driver's workday, and control break times.

Interested?

These resources can provide a starting point: