Cyberunions Talk Show – Episode 43 Mujeres Libres

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*apologizes for the low quality ogg file being an mp3 archive had issue this weekend with the upload and i copied the wrong link it is now corrected, an no we are not trying to push more mp3 use

0:29 We played a Prank on all of you

• Apparently we were too real that we weren’t funny
• Or we were trolling and did not crack up in making the show
• April First show was planned for quite some time
• Walton wavers on being for Capitalism…..No, we are still Post Capitalists

3:26 Working with local union branches

• Walton did a wordpress install for a local branch and saw the local learn and create very quickly
• Stephen suggests we do a segment on branch websites, but need to take into account legal concerns
• Walton is on or on to something to provide resources for local branches

5:14 Walton is Moving!

• Close to where John Maclean a famous socialist Dives out of the show early.
• Stephen keeps the competition going, he might move closer to Trotsky’s house

7:15 Women and Floss/Labor

• We are joined with Deb Nicholson Free Software Activist
• Active in Open Invention Network, OpenHatch Board responsible for Boston Python workshops for Women and their Friends to increase women in free software development
• ADA initiative is formed to look at the gender gap in open tech and open culture communities to fix the gender gap, through events and consulting

9:30 The challenge of a male dominated world

• The percentage of women in the tech fields has gone down
• Free Software movement is a bit behind on the gender balance
• When working toward freedom and empowerment you can’t focus on one type of person
• The hours and work style are a challenge to many that are not familiar or able to meet the expectations

17:15 The challenge of a minority in the workplace

• Studies have shown that until a minority of any sort is above 15% the minority worker is seen as a representative of that community
• In the case of women, when working together becomes gossip more than observing collaboration
• Community need to have a self critical community that is conscious of being human and making mistakes, but correcting those mistakes

23:00 Working with other groups and focus on terminology

• Free Software project to work with the Girl Scouts on teaching the use of free software graphics software
• The culture was much different with developers if you don’t interrupt you don’t get heard
• At the GirlScouts meetings and discussions included using “and”"building on” instead of “but”

25:40 What can others do to assist in changing the culture and dynamics of the work place?

• In projects/usergroup/workplace if you want it to be more welcoming is setup an a code of conduct or diversity statement…etc setting a standard of the type of language and to enforce it
• Important to when unacceptable comments are made that the policy is enforced as it is not constructive to building the community
• Preventing a hostile environment

31:45 Productivity with less insane hours

• When Deb worked at the FSF she was a member of the UAW 2324
• Stephen was also a UAW member while in graduate school
• Deb and Stephen discuss the UAW and different aspects of the contract

40:00 Life in the Union

• Division of labor and building a solidarity idea within the union
• Developing a way for Administrators to work towards becoming sysadmins and gaining other skills
• It’s a bigger challenge at an advocacy organization like FSF cause they do not hire often
• Internship applications became a focus to increase the diversity

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