Tech Worker Resource Hub
Resources to help you build power at work
Whether you’re navigating AI in hiring, fighting for better protections, or trying to understand the hidden workforce powering artificial intelligence, this hub is here to help. We’ve brought together resources, tools, and stories from tech workers like you who are building power in the industry.
Why does this matter?
When employers consider adopting new technologies, how often are workers involved in the process? Not often enough, despite being the direct users of the technology.
As a tech worker, you’re among the first to experience digital technologies that track, monitor, and manage you. And that can suppress your ability to organize. In most cases, workplace technology is designed and deployed without workers’ input.
This needs to change. Workers need a voice on the job.
But here’s the thing: you’re not just vulnerable to technological harms—you’re also best positioned to advocate for change. You have unique expertise about how these systems actually work and how they impact real people.
That’s why worker voice matters. Bringing your voice into the technological conversation is important not only for protecting workers’ rights but also for ensuring that new technologies lead to beneficial outcomes for society at large.
Featured video: The workers behind AI
Whether you’re interested in how AI is impacting hiring or what rights gig workers have, TechEquity has a vast library of online panel discussions with trusted partner organizations, expert panelists, and impacted community members. Explore our recordings to learn more about key issues our community has engaged in the past and ways to continue the conversation today.
Featured worker resources
Looking for resources? Start here
How tech workers are speaking up at work and beyond – A worker voice event recap
AI + Hiring: How algorithms decide jobs – recording
California workers – What you need to know about your data rights
California workers: What you need to know about your layoff rights
What is worker voice?
Why layoff protections matter: Testimony from a Google contract worker
The hidden workforce behind every AI tool you use: Announcing the data work landscape 2.0
Big Tech doesn’t want you to know about these workers behind AI…
How we can protect workers in the age of AI
Tahlia’s story: Starting a union in the face of AI
Join the Tech Worker Group
Our tech worker group receives updates on our campaigns, gets access to resources, and connects to brainstorm how to improve the tech industry. Sign up to join the mailing list today!
Learn MoreShare your story
By sharing your experience as a worker in the tech industry, you can help shape our work and help lawmakers and the public understand what change needs to happen. Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear it.
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Organizing resources
Articles and guides
- “A brewing battle: More IT workers want unions. The industry doesn’t.” and “How to unionize your tech workplace.” by Robert Mitchell, Computerworld
- “We Just Formed the Largest Tech Union in America. Here’s How We Did It.” by Max Belasco, Tech Policy Press
- “Sign Of The Times: An Account Of The First Tech Workers’ Strike” by John Cruickshank, with contributions from Sarah Duncan, Benjamin Harnett, Kait Hoehne, Penina Kessler, David Morant, Rohan Rangray, Sierra Saitta, Jeff Sisson, Erica Vendetti, Yuchen, And More Members Of The New York Times Guild, Long-Haul
- “DMs Open: Winning Remote Organizing” by Emily Mazo, JS Tan, Clarissa Redwine, Kristen Sheets
- “How to Organize Safely in the Age of Surveillance” by Andy Greenberg Lily Hay Newman, Wired
- “Secrets of a Successful Organizer” by by Alexandra Bradbury, Mark Brenner, and Jane Slaughter
Interactive tools
TechEquity research
- Take the Mic: How Worker Voice Shapes Workplace Technology report and Take the Mic – In a nutshell explainer blog
- Ghost Workers in the AI Machine: U.S. Data Workers Speak Out About Big Tech’s Exploitation report and Ghosts in the AI Machine – In a nutshell explainer blog
- AI & Workforce Development: Building a Secure, Equitable Future for Workers report and AI & Workforce Development – In a Nutshell explainer blog
- Inside Tech’s Shadow Workforce report
Books
- Empire of AI by Karen Hao
- The Age of Extraction by Tim Wu
- World Eaters by Catherine Bracy
- Against Tech Oligarchy by Clarissa Redwine and JS Tan
- The Making of the Tech Worker Movement by Ben Tarnoff
- The Nerd Reich by Gil Durán
- Platform Extractivism by Julian Posada
- Deep Unlearning by Timnit Gebru
Are you a worker powering AI?
Artificial intelligence is neither artificial nor intelligent. Much of AI’s “magical” automation is actually powered by contract workers in the U.S. and around the world. Pick any high-profile AI product, and you’ll find contract workers behind it who develop, train, test, and maintain these systems.
But these workers are hidden away behind virtual marketplaces and labyrinthine supply chains, often without adequate benefits and protections to ensure stability.
We need to shine a light on these workers, the harms they endure, and the regulations that can ensure that the people powering AI are getting the wages and protections they deserve.
We created the Data Work Landscape to throw light on this shadowy industry, and highlight some of the companies that provide data work services, such as data collection, curation, annotation, model training, content moderation, and more.
We hope that by pulling back the curtain, we can provide a resource to workers building power in this industry.
Do you work for one of the companies highlighted? Do you have an addition, edit, or suggestion to contribute to the Data Work Landscape? We want to hear from you. We want to learn more about other companies in the AI data space, as well as collect stories from people who have been involved in data work.
Explore the landscape
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