A lot of people are wondering how @AlphabetWorkers Union works. We're a tiny fraction of Google and Alphabet, can we actually make a difference? (1/n)

Our power doesn't come from structure, from dues, bylaws, staff or press attention. Power comes from solidarity, from working collectively to achieve a common goal. Tweets are cheap — we can only build solidarity by solving problems in the workplace and helping people. (2/n)

We're workers at Alphabet because of our relation to production. We're union members because of our relationships with one another. Union organizing is the process of building a culture of care and solidarity in our workplace. (3/n)

The plan is simple: learn about people’s issues, and solve problems in our workplace. In this process we’ll earn trust and grow on to solve bigger problems. This is how any effective and democratic union works, contract or not. (4/n)

We’ve already seen that a small number of people can capture the world’s attention and force a change, e.g., the petition to Cancel Maven, or Googlers for Ending Forced Arbitration. What can hundreds of workers do, organized with a common plan and mission? (5/n)

When we reached out to @CWAUnion, I was so amazed to hear they had actual examples of this working! Many public sector workers in the south are excluded from the legal union and contract process, but those workers built full CWA locals all the same. (6/n)

We’re proud to have sister unions like @UCWGA3265 and TSEU ( @CWA6186) with decades-long histories of successful unionism without a contract. They run campaigns, support workers, and make an actual difference — growing in numbers and strength every year. (7/n)

AWU will do the same. We launched with hundreds of workers despite organizing underground and in secret, through a pandemic. In 30 days of work, we doubled in size. YESTERDAY we doubled in size. The future is bright for workers at Alphabet, there’s no stopping us now :)
(8/8)