System Error: Labour Precarity and Collective Organizing at Microsoft

This article challenges the notion—proposed by liberal-democratic theories of the “knowledge worker” and industry accounts of “friction-free” capitalism—that labour conflict is no longer relevant within digital capitalism via an in-depth examination of a case of collective organizing by temporary workers at Microsoft. The paper suggests the formation and activities of their union, WashTech, prefigures 21st century collective organizing. Two concepts are proposed as guides to these struggles. “Immaterial labour” refers to a set of increasingly important forms of labour within post-Fordism, ranging from call-centre work to software development. “Precarity” denotes the material and existential insecurity suffered by workers as a result of flexible employment arrangements. These concepts are examined by drawing on archival material and interviews with WashTech members. Resume: Cet article conteste la notion—proposee par la theorie liberale democratique du « knowledge worker » et du capitalisme « sans friction »—que les luttes ouvrieres manquent de pertinence quant au capitalisme numerique. A partir d l’analyse de WashTech, organisation de travailleurs temporaries a Microsoft, nous proposons que les activites de ce syndicat prefigurent l’organization ouvriere au 21e siecle. Deux concepts peuvent elucider ces lutes. Le « travail immateriel » signale des formes de travail don’t l’importance augmente dans le post-fordisme, consistant de centres d’appels et du developpement de logiciels. La « precarite » designe l’insecurite materielle et existentielle subie par les travailleurs resultat des arrangements d’emploi « flexibles ». Nous considerons ces deux concepts a partir de recherches d’archives et d’entrevues des membres de WashTech.