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from the we-were-totally-planning-on-doing-this dept.
Microsoft promises 'open and constructive' approach to employee labor unions:
Conceding that the rise of labor unions in tech may ultimately reach its own business, Microsoft released a new set of principles acknowledging the rights of its employees to organize, pledging to work constructively with any who do, and making it clear that it hopes they won't feel the need.
[...] The unusual pledge follows a union vote last week by the quality assurance team inside Activision-Blizzard subsidiary Raven Software, maker of Call of Duty. Microsoft needs regulatory approval for its $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard.
[...] "That's obviously part of the constellation of developments that we've been paying attention to, as well as lots of other things," he said. "The principles that we're announcing today will certainly apply in the future if Activision-Blizzard becomes part of Microsoft."
Microsoft's approach contrasts with Amazon, which has opposed the formation of labor unions in its fulfillment network. Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, N.Y., became the first in the company's U.S. workforce to vote to organize in April.
Here are the four principles as outlined in Smith's post:
• We believe in the importance of listening to our employees' concerns [...]
• We recognize that employees have a legal right to choose whether to form or join a union [...]
• We are committed to creative and collaborative approaches with unions when employees wish to exercise their rights and Microsoft is presented with a specific unionization proposal [...]
• Building on our global labor experiences, we are dedicated to maintaining a close relationship and shared partnership with all our employees, including those represented by a union [...]
So, great champion of employee welfare and support, trying to get out in front of the inevitable, or trying to put on a good face while their acquisition is being decided? (Or some linear combination of those three?)
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 06 2022, @12:30AM
> Microsoft promises
Stop.
Fuck M$ the convicted monopoly with the power of the highest ranking Mafia and internal nutters who would qualify as Scientologists.
Remember the "partnership" with Novell? Where are they now?
Fuck you, Microsoft. FUCK YOU. Shove your "patents" up your ass.
If people would just STOP reporting on Microsoft and say FUCK YOU they would just fade into the history books. But no, "THEY HAVE THE NIGGER CATTLE!" Are you one of them?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Beryllium Sphere (r) on Monday June 06 2022, @12:49AM
Someone is guaranteed to say that unions prevent high achievers from getting rewarded.
The Screen Actors Guild is an obvious counterexample. Meryl Streep gets everything she can negotiate, while ordinary talent is protected from the worst exploitation. A software union could work the same way.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 06 2022, @02:02AM (1 child)
Embrace ← you are here
Extend
Extinguish
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday June 06 2022, @03:54PM
Indeed. With Google it's more of a "Develop, Market, Sell/Rebrand/Shutdown" cycle.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Monday June 06 2022, @02:59AM
In other words, we'll leave the door open when I exchange your opinion with mine?
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 06 2022, @04:02AM (1 child)
Microsoft used to use prison slave labor in the US.
Microsoft, when forced, by an Australian law, to account for slavery world-wide in its operations, reported 46 “major” slavery-related issues.
Maybe they have changed. Maybe "the new Microsoft" is something real. But, it will take at least as long not acting as evil pricks as the period before where MS was nothing, if not evil, before they should be given any benefit of the doubt.
https://blog.globaltel.com/companies-use-prison-labor/ [globaltel.com]
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft-apple-suppliers-exposed-by-anti-slavery-law/ [seattletimes.com]
(Score: 1) by unionrep on Monday June 06 2022, @04:26AM
We all look forward to constructive and fruitful negotiations with the Lords of Redmond.
(Score: 5, Touché) by deimios on Monday June 06 2022, @04:53AM
So which part of this "promise" is legally binding?
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 06 2022, @02:02PM
Not to cum in your mouth.
News at 11.