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Uloop

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social networks

Labor complaint against Uloop could set new precedent for Web unionization drives

Are employees who even mention the word "union" on employer-organized internal message boards protected under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935? "This is kind of a new frontier, a gray area," Austin Garrido told me in a conference call with fellow former Uloop employee Sarah Doolittle last week. He and Doolittle claim they were fired after discussing unionization efforts at the college-focused social network. As their complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board continues to be investigated, one thing it could hinge on is if discussion about forming unions online is protected in the same way that posting a flyer in the company break room or chit-chat amongst coworkers on a shop floor. "It's something that really hasn't been considered in the past," Doolittle added. And what about third-party employee networks on sites like Facebook? More »

Feature

6:00 PM on Mon Apr 28 2008
By Jackson West
1,106 views, 7 comments

Latest by Rooo sez BISH PLZ: @giddieup: In your plans for world domination, I do hope you've included your status as sole employee in your sole proprietorship in your -- also sole, I'm sure -- acquisition exit strategy. more »

exits

Worker-hating college site Uloop paid $50,000 to settle Jewish employee's lawsuit

College classifieds site Uloop, the subject of a labor complaint filed by fired employees, previously had to settle a wrongful termination suit, according to a tipster. A marketer and founding member of the team was fired last fall, and filed suit arguing that it was discriminatory. Unlike the rest of the team, veterans of the dot-bomb who were churchgoing Christians, he was young and Jewish. Uloop settled the case, paying $50,000. As for any hints that company management may like unions even less than Jews, notoriously anti-union newspaper publisher Gannett made invested an undisclosed amount in December. Update: Turns out the marketer in question is "Silicon Valley Publicist" Denis Hiller, who can thank his lucky stars he won't have to spin Uloop's latest possible transgression.

12:00 PM on Thu Apr 24 2008
By Jackson West
525 views, 1 comment

Latest by sample032: Luckily for Denton, if his writers try to unionize, the Jewish part won't be an issue, and having "independent contractors" lets you avoid lots of legal issues. more »

social networks

Labor complaint filed over Uloop firings

Uloop's Cal Poly campus representatives Austin Garrido and Sarah Doolittle, pictured here in their company shirts, have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board after being fired by the student social network. The dismissal came only minutes after posting a message on the company's internal site expressing an interest in forming a union after discovering their paychecks were two dollars an hour lighter thanks to an unannounced pay cut, reports school newspaper The Poly Post. It is illegal in the United States to take action against employees for discussing union organizing efforts. I've asked Uloop and the reps for comment. (Via SFist)

2:00 PM on Wed Apr 23 2008
By Jackson West
668 views, 3 comments

Latest by ianloic: That never stopped Amazon.com: [www.nytimes.com] more »