If you're in the UK, we are that tech union :)

ICYMI: important piece on a new case against TikTok union-busting supported by @foxglovelegal.bsky.social & @utaw.tech:

@utaw.tech launch bullying, harassment and union busting case vs TikTok supported by @foxglovelegal.bsky.social

Former TikTok employee accuses company of bullying, harassment and union busting Along with four of her former colleagues, Lynda Ouazar is launching legal action against TikTok. This is the second court case TikTok is facing from former UK employees in recent months.

Another legal challenge from content moderators at TikTok announced on Sky News this morning news.sky.com/story/former...

After months of stalling from Apple, the CAC have imposed access arrangements to allow UTAW-CWU officials to meet with staff at the Cambridge Apple Retail Store ahead of their upcoming ballot for union recognition. Inititally Apple had refused reasonable access to the building for union reps, while continuing to use regular staff meetings and one-on-ones with staff to try and discourage them from supporting their union. Apple are now required to give UTAW-CWU officials access to the store for two staff meetings, two days of drop-in surgeries, use of a noticeboard, space for leaflets, use of internal email to share ballot information, and the ability to post materials to staff ahead of the ballot. The ballot will now proceed during a 20-day period starting February. utaw.tech/apple UTAW and CWU logos.

Breaking: Apple required to proceed with recognition ballot after months of attempting to block and union-busting activities.

CAC Decision: www.gov.uk/government/p...

A mighty win for Mitie workers 💪 Great stuff from all involved at our @utaw.tech branch! We love to see it.

2026 is going to be tough, stick together with your friends and comrades. Happy New Year.

Here's why tech workers need unions too Tech workers used to enjoy perks and attractive salaries, but toxic practices are endemic in the sector. It's time for techies to organise.

Tech workers need unions too
buff.ly/dgLeqyj
With mass layoffs and poor working conditions becoming widespread across the sector, it’s time for techies to get organised
@marisharay.bsky.social @thebristolcable.bsky.social @joshuareynoldssl6.bsky.social @utaw.tech @unitesharon.bsky.social @tuc.org.uk

Layoff announcements used to boost stock prices. Not anymore says Goldman Sachs | Fortune Analysts ran the numbers and found a surprising change in how investors are reacting to layoff announcements.

Strategic layoffs have been obviously cynically motivated to us in the union movement (especially those that cite 'AI') for some time. Seems like Goldman Sachs is catching up.

fortune.com/2025/12/25/g...

TikTok faces legal action over moderator cuts TikTok is being accused of threatening safety workers with redundancy days before they were due to vote on forming a union.

🗞️ News: @foxglovelegal.bsky.social has launched a new case against TikTok in the UK for union busting. Read more in Sky's coverage here:

news.sky.com/story/tiktok...

We proud to support TikTok workers, Julio & others, alongside @leigh-day.bsky.social and @utaw.tech union. Details below!

TikTok faces legal action over moderator cuts TikTok is being accused of threatening safety workers with redundancy days before they were due to vote on forming a union.

CWU members from our @utaw.tech branch take legal action against TikTok for union busting

news.sky.com/story/tiktok...

UNION WIN Employment Rights Bill: Landmark Employment Legislation passes Lords A New Deal for Working People is one step closer.

CWU inspired policy has PASSED both Houses of Parliament.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 - remember it because it'll change you and your comrades lives for the better in the next year or so.

The Chair of Parliament's Tech Committee questions TikTok's safety claims: "It's alarming that they aren't offering us transparency over this information. Without it, how can we have any confidence whether these changes will safeguard users?"

Hundreds of UK moderators have left TikTok - sparking safety fears, whistleblowers reveal Sky News has seen correspondence from TikTok to the employees telling them to sign termination contacts by 31 October. Hundreds did.

Hundreds of UK moderators have left TikTok - sparking safety fears, whistleblowers reveal

news.sky.com/story/hundre...

Big Tech Want to Replace Workers with Robots and AI | CWU LIVE Podcast Edition of CWU Live. This week, Michael Walker hosts as we catch up with our UTAW branch and dive into the latest tech headlines. We’ll be discussing AI, automation, and the important work the...

🎙️ Now on Spotify! Catch up with last week's CWU Live. We had a great chat with our @utaw.tech tech workers branch about AI, automation, and what all the latest tech changes mean for workers. A really interesting listen, even if you’re not a tech worker.

www.cwu.org/podcast/big-...

TikTok is getting rid of the London staff who keep you safe from harmful, misleading and illegal content. When did they announce the job cuts? Eight days before those employees were due to vote on unionising.

We’ve signed an open letter with @tuc.org.uk and @cwunews.bsky.social:

gigaflop

we're reppin' AND greppin'!

(there is something in there)

How thousands of ‘overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI to seem smart Contracted AI raters describe grueling deadlines, poor pay and opacity around work to make chatbots intelligent

“AI isn’t magic; it’s a pyramid scheme of human labor,” said @adiod.bsky.social, a researcher at @dairinstitute.bsky.social. “These raters are the middle rung: invisible, essential and expendable.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Trying to grow the UK AI sector by building data centers is like trying to grow the university sector by building paper factories.

'We wouldn't let our children on the app': TikTok moderators warn users may be at risk after redundancies In August, TikTok said it was making redundancies in order to "concentrate operations in fewer locations" and develop the use of AI in moderation, in part to protect human workers from seeing harmful ...

Article here by @mickeycarroll.bsky.social news.sky.com/story/we-wou...

Sky News website headline 'We wouldn't let out children on the app': TikTok moderators warn users may be at risk after redundancies, In August, TikTok said it was making redundancies in order to "concentrate operations in fewer locations" and develop the use of..."

TikTok's biggest European market is the UK, something they were gleefully boasting to the press about early this summer but then as soon as a union recognition ballot is scheduled, suddenly it isn't that important and they want to offshore jobs somewhere with cheaper labour and weak unions.

TikTok Workers Speak Out YouTube video by Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Moderators face one of the most psychologically damaging jobs on the internet to keep the public safe, yet TikTok wants to offshore the roles, despite making BILLIONS.

We rallied outside TikTok HQ to show that our @utaw.tech members aren’t going anywhere.

www.youtube.com/shorts/oJl172PqRXI

Fedaa has worked as a pediatrician this whole time

"Politicians are not commentators, they are paid to take decisions."
🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...

Everyone, even grifters, would actually prefer clear and unambiguous wins of the sort you’d get from solving the problems above. The preferred way to defeat your political opponents and other companies is force-of-arms, not grifting. If you’re the one person that gets their projects delivered on-time, at high-quality, without the need to lie, then you’ll have a great career. The issue? Society does not systematically produce nearly enough people who can do this. In their absence we select people who are either deliberately lying or so vapid that they really do think they’re incredible despite all evidence to the contrary. None of this helps them ship software, but it does make it easier to accept awards on stages and maybe get a TED talk one day, fantasies of which put them in danger of orgasm. They do not have the ability to address the hard problems, because they cannot even perceive the problems accurately.

Nik's thesis is fascinating - tech leaders don't lead, buying software as a means of putting the responsibility for their company's future on someone else's back, allowing them to do specious TED talks and as little work as possible.
www.wheresyoured.at/the-remarkab...

Who lined up the speakers for the UN's AI For Good summit?

Of all the actual experts and people who know about 'AI'', its impact now and potential, and you booked WILL I AM and CHERIE BLAIR???

AI slows down some experienced software developers, study finds Contrary to popular belief, using cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools slowed down experienced software developers when they were working in codebases familiar to them, rather than supercharging their work, a new study found.

Some billionaires getting very nervous as more and more of these studies start to get published www.reuters.com/business/ai-...

I bet he wonders why he isn't allowed to run the company anymore.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin calls U.N. ‘transparently antisemitic’ after report on tech firms and Gaza

In WaPo wapo.st/4lg3pIh

(links sans paywall) archive.is/yUZfC#select...

At the CWU we back Zarah, and she backs us. The Mail on Sunday can eat shit.