This FAQ provides information about the unionization effort at Kickstarter from the perspective of the companys leadership. It was originally published on September 27, 2019, and we're updating it as necessary. Last updated December 6, 2019.
What's been happening with the organizing effort at Kickstarter?
Kickstarter's leadership unequivocally supports the staff's right to decide if a union would benefit them. On October 30, the union organizers here announced their intention to move toward a secret-ballot NLRB election. We believe this is the fairest way to resolve the internal debate over unionization. An election is likely to happen in the coming weeks.
The leadership is close to signing a neutrality agreement with the organizers. Under this agreement, the leadership will strictly limit its communication with the staff on union matters. We will be available to answer questions, but we won't initiate any discussions of our views. The agreement also requires the organizers and the leadership to refrain from making any public statements about unionization to press or on social media during the election period. And the organizers and leadership will determine the makeup of the bargaining unit before an election.
In November, in response to staff demand, non-managerial employees at Kickstarter held two open forums to talk about their experiences at the company and their views on the issues here. Kickstarter's leadership paid for the services of a neutral moderator that the staff selected, and managers were asked to stay out of the building.
This demand for dialogue makes clear that there is no consensus here on the unionization question. Our support for these forums was consistent with our approach over the last eight months: We have worked to give our staff the space and time they need to decide this issue on their own. Regardless of the decision they make, we remain committed to building a workplace where everyone feels supported and heard.
What if the staff votes to unionize?
If a majority of the staff in an appropriate bargaining unit votes in favor of a union, we will fully respect that choice and negotiate in good faith toward a collective bargaining agreement.
What does Kickstarter's leadership think about the idea of a union at the company?
As we told the staff in May, we don't think a union framework is the right tool to fix Kickstarter's problems. We think that the company is better positioned to overcome its challenges, serve its mission, and do right by its employees and community without this framework. As a public benefit corporation, and a small but mighty 160-person company, Kickstarter is already set up in a way that reduces the pressure to chase profits and keeps us focused on our mission: helping to bring creative projects to life.
The organizers have not yet clearly communicated the problems that they believe a union could address, and how a union would fix them. This has made it more difficult to determine how this union would benefit Kickstarter.
Why would the leadership take a side on the unionization question?
We feel it's appropriate for us to have an opinion on the issue, and some staff members asked us to share our views. For staff members who want to make an informed decision, we can provide a unique perspective, given our duty to balance the interests of our creators, backers, current and future staff, shareholders, and our future as an organization. But we have made absolutely clear to the staff that the final decision is in their hands, and that we will of course respect the outcome of an election.
Has Kickstarter retaliated against union organizers or supporters?
No. We fired two employees in September, and we understand how that would raise concerns given their roles in the organizing effort. But that involvement had nothing to do with their terminations. We have provided extensive documentation of the reasons for these terminations to the National Labor Relations Board.
It's worth noting that since March weve given raises to 14 people who have been public about their support for a union, and promoted three of them.
As the company's staff debates this question, what is Kickstarter's leadership doing?
Clearly the decision isn't ours to make. But we do have an important role to play here. We can create a space where the rules around organizing are followed, one where staff members can make a decision that is well-informed and entirely their own, free from inappropriate pressure or personal criticism. That's what we've aimed to do in the eight months since the unionization effort was announced, and what we will continue to do through an election period.
At times this has been a difficult role to play as tensions among the staff have run high. We've tried to tread a path that gives the staff room to make this important decision for themselves.
Here are some ways the leadership has supported this process:
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This FAQ provides information about the unionization effort at Kickstarter from the perspective of the companys leadership. It was originally published on September 27, 2019, and we're updating it as necessary. Last updated December 6, 2019.
