EP 467: Organizing Indie Labor with Chiarra Lohr

The labor market has undergone a sea change in the last 20 years. A full third of US workers are part of the independent workforce, including gig workers, contract workers, freelancers, and sole proprietors. And yet, key provisions in our labor regulations do not cover independent workers.

What's more, platform companies have further changed our idea of work. If you sell your labor on a platform, you're not an employee of the platform—you're an entrepreneur.

Well, those entrepreneurs are starting to ask questions. I am, too.

Today's episode examines one organization's attempt to organize the indie workforce. The Indie Sellers Guild formed in the wake of a strike action in April 2022 by 30,000 Etsy sellers. I spoke with executive director Chiarra Lohr about what they've been up to, the challenges they face, and the victories they've already celebrated.

Plus, you'll learn a bit about the history of working women's organizing in the US—starting back in the 1830s!

Footnotes:

• Learn more about the Indie Sellers Guild
• What Works Ep 385: "Who do you work for?"
• The Lowell Offering by Benita Eisler
• The Voice of Industry digital archive
• "History & Culture" — Lowell National Historical Park
• Platform Capitalism by Nick Srincek
• Monopsony 101 via Investopedia
• National Labor Relations Act of 1935
• Check out the Indie Sellers Guild Convention