Thread regarding Cigna layoffs

Volkswagon just made the news for forming a union, so its possible: even in the current corporate environment. Given the level of engagement on this website, there is a really good chance of successfully forming one!

@aj If you're in Tech at all, and maybe even if you're not, give "You Deserve a Tech Union" by Ethan Marcotte a read.

Short answer is, you have to talk to people. If you're in person, talk in person. If you're remote, do a cell phone call.

There are regional union of unions. If we actually successfully formed a union, we would pick one of them to officially have our union join, to help with the paper work, and help us create a contract.

But these folks will help us even before hand.

So if you're serious, contact a regional union first and talk with a coach.

Then, with their help, you work out who is in our "work unit", and who those people are, for the purpose of the union. (I forget the official term.) Usually that is people who do roughly the same job at the same work site.

(Also, the way it works legally, management is not and cannot be part of the union. )

Once you figure out who your work unit is, you make a list, maybe a google spreadsheet on a personal device, and call each one and talk them, and eventually, ask them if they would support the union.

Some people will be really excited and you can enlist them to help with the calls.

Once you get over a certain threshold, lets say 75%, who said they would support joining the union, then you fill out cards and make it official and tell manegement.

Then the company either say "yes, you formed a union" and starts negotiating a contract.

Or they make you vote. And before the vote, they campaign. And try every dirty trick to make people vote against it. Mandatory meetings with shady outside people who bust unions for a living.

That's why you really do want a regional union with people who do this for a living to coach you and have your back.

They might also try to redefine your work unit.

Eventually you vote. You only need over 50% to vote yes to form the union. But you want to plan for losing some support after you go public and the company does its full court press.

what does the union at Cigna International look like in practice?

Cigna International Health is already unionized. They got the right idea

@aq Unions are needed now more than ever. Regular people are getting kicked in the teeth by capitalism and ruling class

Unions are so 1920s. Too late and unnecessary in 2020s

@ah have any ideas how one would start a covert UNION from within cigna? i don’t think Teams is a good platform for it. should we encrypt our messages??

It’s already too late. A lot of great people have already left, either through layoffs, VRP, or another job offer. The ones remaining are unmotivated. It’s better to spend your time looking for another job than wasting your time trying to save a sinking ship

@a2 Probably. But you risk your severance.

@a9 Those are probably the H1Bs and OPTs that came here during the 2000s.

It is needed, today only non indians are layed off, but indians are not impacted even from onshore in our team.

@a2 I doubt it. And people seem to only care once they see layoffs affecting talented and great coworkers. Where were these people when they were needed before this happened?

Settle down Norma Rae

Is it still possible if we just got laid off?