Interview by Ben Tarnoff

Earlier this year, a tech company named Lanetix fired its entire staff of software engineers for trying to unionize with NewsGuild–Communications Workers of America (CWA). While the outcome of the campaign is still unknown — NewsGuild–CWA has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging illegal retaliation — the Lanetix fight is potentially historic.

Unions have been trying to organize software engineers for decades, with little success. But this time might be different — and a victory for the Lanetix workers may inspire similar efforts elsewhere, especially with the help of leftist tech groups like the Tech Workers Coalition, which recently helped stage a well-attended picket outside of the Lanetix offices in San Francisco.

Ben Tarnoff recently spoke to two of the fired Lanetix engineers, Björn Westergard and an anonymous engineer called “Will” in this interview. They discussed why they organized, how they did it, and what lessons their experience might hold for the future of tech organizing.