(Fonte: europeanjournalists.org) TikTok employees are continuing their strike this week amid the social media company’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining after announcing the layoffs of 150 content moderators. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its German affiliate ver.di and the striking workers in urging management to enter into constructive dialogue and negotiate a collective agreement.
“We trained your machines, pay us what we deserve!” This is what TikTok employees in Germany are demanding, following the announcement that about 150 content moderators in Berlin from the Trust and Safety department and TikTok Live will be replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and external service providers. The strikers demand a collective agreement that includes severance payments worth three year’s salary as well as an extended notice period.
After five one-day strikes, TikTok employees begins a 4-day strike on 23 September, during which a conference on the societal consequences of the digital revolution will be organised. On 25 September, a strike rally will take place in front of the labour court. A decision is expected on the establishment of a conciliation committee as TikTok has initiated proceedings to establish the legal basis for dismissing employees without reaching an agreement with ver.di.
Since July, ver.di has been fiercely opposing the job cuts, arguing that the use of AI in content moderation without human oversight and understanding of the political and cultural contexts, is a serious misstep.
“In this dispute, the stakes are fundamental: we want tech giants to take responsibility for the social consequences of artificial intelligence. If, in the future, poorly paid workers and algorithms are expected to keep TikTok free from fake news and violence, then technological progress will come at the expense of employees and the democratic public. That is why TikTok cannot simply be allowed to push through its plans,” explains Lucas Krentel, deputy regional head of media at ver.di Berlin-Brandenburg.
Shortly after the first days of strike in July, the social media platform terminated the contract of a union representative in retaliation for showing solidarity and joining the strike. “By terminating her employment, TikTok is not only removing a colleague from the company who is standing up for her colleagues. The company is also aiming to intimidate other colleagues at TikTok and create uncertainty about their job security,” said Kathlen Eggerling, union secretary responsible for the media sector in ver.di Berlin-Brandenburg.
The EFJ fully supports ver.di and the strikers, “who are defending not only their dismissal conditions, but also a quality content moderation model that respects freedom of expression. TikTok has legal obligations and social responsibilities, both as an employer and as a platform that publishes content online. We call on TikTok to join the negotiating table and show respect for its employees and their work by signing a collective agreement,” said EFJ President Maja Sever.