Bandcamp has all the time been referred to as an artist-friendly different to streaming companies like Spotify, the place you should purchase music instantly from the musicians themselves. Now, staff on the Epic-owned on-line audio distributor need to be sure that they’re handled in addition to its creators by forming a union referred to as Bandcamp United. In line with Rolling Stone and TechCrunch, a majority of staff are in favor of unionizing, and all 62 of its non-managerial and non-supervisory personnel within the US will make up its bargaining unit. These 62 staff are composed of assist employees, designers, engineers, writers and different roles throughout the platform.
Apparently, Bandcamp’s personnel have been quietly engaged on their organizing efforts since final summer time. They in the end determined to hitch Tech Employees Union Native 1010 of the Workplace and Skilled Workers Worldwide Union, which is similar group that helped full-time Kickstarter staff set up again in 2020. Based mostly on the mission assertion written on Bandcamp United’s web site, the group goals to repair pay disparities and promote “equitable situations and financial stability.” They need to be sure that staff have entry to paid break day and that their salaries “will develop to fulfill financial necessity.”
Rolling Stone says they’re additionally trying to tackle administration’s lack of transparency after Epic’s takeover final 12 months. Employees have been reportedly requested to signal new employment contracts when the Fortnite developer acquired the platform, and so they got a restricted period of time to overview its phrases with no room for negotiations.
Ethan Diamond, Bandcamp’s CEO, informed the publications that administration is “conscious that some… staff are looking for to arrange a union and [is] reviewing the petition to know their considerations.” Bandcamp United has already filed for a petition with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to manage a union election and can maintain one to make issues official as soon as it will get authorised.
