Recode Decode: The Google walkout organizers, one year later
Decoder with Nilay Patel · with Stephanie Parker, Meredith Whittaker, Claire Stapleton, Nicole Moore, Ben Gwin, Shirin Ghaffary · November 4, 2019 · 57 min
Summary
This episode revisits the Google walkout one year later, highlighting the sustained efforts of organizers and the ripple effect on worker activism across the tech industry and beyond. It delves into the challenges and successes of advocating for workers' rights, ethical AI, and improved workplace culture, offering valuable perspectives on collective action and its long-term impact.
Key takeaways
The Google walkout served as a significant catalyst, inspiring wider worker movements and organization attempts across the tech sector and gig economy, demonstrating the power of collective action.
Worker organizing strategies are adaptable and can be translated across diverse industries and employment structures, from tech giants to the gig economy, despite facing unique challenges in each context.
Addressing systemic issues like sexual harassment, discrimination, and ethical AI development requires sustained advocacy and collective pressure on corporations to influence policy and culture.
Contract and contingent workers face specific organizing challenges but are increasingly vital to broader labor movements, necessitating tailored strategies to ensure their rights and working conditions are addressed.
The episode underscores the long-term commitment required for effective activism, as original organizers continue their fight for change both within and outside their former workplaces.
In this special episode of Recode Decode, Kara Swisher checks in with some of the organizers of the Google walkout, who came on her show in November 2018 after leading a 20,000-worker protest. Later in the show, Kara's executive producer Erica Anderson (herself one of the organizers who has since left Google) talks with some of the people who were inspired by the 2018 walkouts to continue fighting for the workers of Google and other tech companies.
Featuring:
Stephanie Parker (@sparker2), policy specialist at Google and co-organizer of 2018 Google walkout
Meredith Whittaker (@mer__edith), co-director of AI Now Institute and co-organizer of 2018 Google walkout
Claire Stapleton, co-organizer of 2018 Google walkout
Nicole Moore, part-time Lyft driver and organizing committee member of Rideshare Drivers United
Ben Gwin, contractor at HCL working on Google Shopping, union leader
Shirin Ghaffary (@shiringhaffary), Recode reporter
Hosts:
Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large
Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer of Recode Decode and co-organizer of 2018 Google walkout
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to Reset, Recode's new podcast that explores why — and how — tech is changing everything.
If you haven't already, make sure to listen to Kara's original podcast with the walkout organizers from November 2018.
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What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
The Google walkout served as a significant catalyst, inspiring wider worker movements and organization attempts across the tech sector and gig economy, demonstrating the power of collective action.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Worker organizing strategies are adaptable and can be translated across diverse industries and employment structures, from tech giants to the gig economy, despite facing unique challenges in each context.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Addressing systemic issues like sexual harassment, discrimination, and ethical AI development requires sustained advocacy and collective pressure on corporations to influence policy and culture.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Contract and contingent workers face specific organizing challenges but are increasingly vital to broader labor movements, necessitating tailored strategies to ensure their rights and working conditions are addressed.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
The episode underscores the long-term commitment required for effective activism, as original organizers continue their fight for change both within and outside their former workplaces.
