Ethan Marcotte

It is that time of year, so I thought I’d mention that my book YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION is very much a thing you can buy for any tech workers in your life. Or yourself! You can buy it just about anywhere books are sold—or hey, ask your library to grab a copy! ethanmarcotte.com/books/you-de...

“we’re restructuring for growth” “we overhired during the pandemic” “we’re expecting efficiency gains from ‘artificial intelligence’” the lyrics might change, but the song’s still the same www.cnbc.com/2026/10/26/m...

Often when I am talking with a tech worker, they will say something like, well, look, no one will die from my work. But was that ever true? Is it true now? https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/we-cannot-under-any-circumstances (My doctor clients know better.)

We just implemented toad review

I was really hoping I’d be at Circuit Breakers this weekend, but it’s sadly not in the cards this year. If any of you tech labor sickos (deeply affectionate) are going, please have a wonderful time and also let me know how excellent it was techworkerscoalition.org/circuit-brea...

This from @ethanmarcotte.com is very good, and hammers on an important point I've been making for years: "personalization" is just something desperate execs push because they have no other ideas, so they translate advertising logic into product features. "Here's more of the same" is a shit pitch.

A reminder that if you get laid off, it’s not because you failed, it’s because leadership failed you. Related:

As usual, @spavel.bsky.social says it better than I could’ve. Nothing I outlined in my post is an accident; the sad state of ✨personalized recommendations✨ is very much a designed outcome. We’re living through a time of “number go up” business models, plotted out to their natural extreme.

There’s been a lot of discourse recently about how book editors don’t have time to work on books, want books to arrive to them fully edited, and are pressured to use AI on them once they do. But you know who can polish your MS/proposal and never uses AI? This guy

Mine just arrived!

Henry’s essay on the state of tech—and of tech work, and of tech workers—is very good. It’s hopeful, painful, and beautiful all at once, and I think it’s worth your time.

I’m still really proud of this report and grateful to the workers who shared their experiences. For a number of reasons, I think it’s really important to listen to workers in the U.S. involved in the work of training AI systems. This is a global workforce, including precarious work here.

Not one cent to Starbucks until they settle a union contract. Thank you, St. Louis and Philly!

Just got my copy of an absolutely gorgeous thing that @lifewinning.com made. I am *delighted* to see this book back in the world. And you can get your own copy! It’s: so good networksofny2026.bigcartel.com/product/netw...

i read this in john gaius’s voice

i just became the ha ha sickos meme

Every chatbot prompt box says "check answers for accuracy." But increasingly, "humans in the loop" refuse to do that. Instead, they become complicit in the AI industry's project of destroying the provenance of information. But you are person, and it is an app. It can't take responsibility for you.

LABOR SICKOS* OF NEW YORK: the authors of AGAINST TECH OLIGARCHY are doing an event *tonight* in Brooklyn. RSVP link is below, stop by if you can! events.ticketleap.com/tickets/powe... * affectionate #nyc #1u #labor #TechLabor

somehow did not own a copy of this and I've now fixed this problem

I’m still so proud of this little book. If you read it, I hope it’s useful to you. And I’ve said it before, but if you’d like a copy but don’t feel you can swing the purchase right now—shipping costs, how your budget’s looking this month, whatever—just send me an email. We’ll figure it out. ❤️‍🔥

Labo(u)r Day is a good time to remind folks about YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION by @ethanmarcotte.com — collective organizing and worker power is maybe *especially* important for these industries that shape all of our lives, especially now. ethanmarcotte.com/books/you-de...

@dame.is okay so how do i opt out of this, short of deleting my entire account

Not one cent to Starbucks until workers get a contract! Pass it on!

Shout out to @davistint (on instagram), who made these incredible hand-printed signs after seeing posts about our fight for AI protections last week! union journalists 🤝 local chicago artists NO AI USE

grim reaper’s fucking UP this week

New from me with Jane Slaughter: United Auto Workers members are voting by mail ballot for their top officers, for the second time in the union’s 91 years. Ballots went out August 21 and are due back by October 5. labornotes.org/2026/08/uaw-...

I can fix her

Folks, I’m rebuilding my music email list. To entice you, subscribers get a free copy of my new song “The Muse (The Work Is The Wage).” Recorded in Seattle in Pearl Jam’s studio by Shawn Simmons (The Head And The Heart, Hey Marseilles). I hope you’ll check it out! scottandrew.music

good morning ONLY to organized labor

CHEKHOV'S GOT A GUN CHEKHOV'S GOT A GUN WHAT WILL THE CLIMAX BEEEEE WHEN WE HIT ACT THREEEEEEE