Ten days ago, in light of troubling allegations of union busting by Kickstarter management, we decided to pause the launch of our crowdfunding campaign for the new edition of Agon. Although we had the specifics planned, the draft project approved, and marketing efforts underway, we felt it was important to stop and evaluate both the situation and our relationship with Kickstarter. We strive for transparency, fairness, and equity in the way we operate our business and we look for those same values in the companies we partner with, whenever possible.
To be honest, Kickstarter management has put us in a bind. Their policies and actions have left us with a situation where we will lose some of our regular backers if we stay, and lose others if we move to an alternative. When it comes down to it, we will act according to our conscience, and for the first time in a decade of crowdfunding, that conscience has us seriously considering other crowdfunding platforms. If management continues to act against the public’s benefit by undermining unionization efforts, they will leave us with little choice in the coming year. We stand at an unpleasant and unexpected crossroads.
After more than a week of internal deliberation and due diligence, we’ve concluded the following:
- The situation is still fluid. The organization effort continues – and we’re encouraged by that – but management has not made any public steps to recognize the union.
- Union organizers at Kickstarter have not called for a boycott. That would represent a dramatic and deliberate escalation and it’s their responsibility to decide if and when such an important action would be warranted.
- As a company we have maximum influence when we work within the Kickstarter ecosystem, not outside it. Completely walking away at this point, while possible, would not just be premature but also undercut the impact of our support for the union.
So: we have determined that at this time our values, our business, and our commitment to the unionization effort are all best served by continuing to use Kickstarter with one important caveat: if management refuses to recognize the union after a majority of employees vote to organize or if the union calls for a boycott, we will cancel any ongoing campaign immediately—regardless of how much money it’s raised or how many days are left in its funding period. (Campaigns which have already funded and concluded will not be canceled; Kickstarter has already collected their fee on those and we remain committed to delivering what we’ve promised.)
The true power of Kickstarter is realized when collective action comes together to create something greater than any one individual can achieve. If you are reading this and would like to voice your support for the organizing employees at Kickstarter, we encourage you to sign this petition. If you are a creator on Kickstarter, this petition would be a good one to sign as well. We’ve signed both.
At its core, Kickstarter is a platform fueled by hope, optimism, and excitement.
We are excited to launch Agon later this week.
We are optimistic that unionization efforts at Kickstarter will succeed.
And we hope that management is listening to our concerns, and do the right thing.
Maybe you could do something like donate a dollar from every backer towards the unionization effort? I don’t know exactly how that would work, but I’m just brainstorming.
I like what you’re thinking, tho at this time I don’t believe the union needs monetary donations (and integrating them into our existing campaign’s setup would mess with the overall financial model of the campaign, requiring rippling adjustments).
I suspect right now the support they need most is attention and public pressure, which is why we’ve pointed at two petitions in this post, and why we’ll remain attentive to the union’s statements about what they need.
Why are they unionizing? What are the stated issues?
Signed — thanks for the link for backers.
I agree with this statement in supporting a union if the majority of its employees wish for it to exist. I believe it is foolish on our part as outsiders to assume that just because unions work great with one organization that all organizations MUST have one or they are wrong. This statement shows that Evil Hat Productions is not trying to push unionization, but rather support of what is best for the employees, which ultimately is best determined by the employees. It is a sad day when we push to support the minority to have a voice only to ignore hypocritically the voice of the majority. Good on you, Evil Hat! This was the right move.
Follow links in this and the prior post to get your question answered.
You continue to make me feel good about spending all my gaming dollars with Evil Hat Fred. Thanks for the transparency, authenticity and ethics!
D do love your stuff, but give https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/09/kickstarter-to-workers-and-project-creators-drop-dead I’m afraid I really can’t back any Kickstarter projects right now, even from you lovely people. Hopefully I can pick up PDFs later.
Simon, we understand and support your decision. However, based on our own conversations with union organizers it’s clear the best course of action for us is to remain in the Kickstarter system for the time being. A premature boycott of the service only serves to increase the adversarial attitude of Kickstarter management, which ends up providing less support to the very workers we’re looking to help. If the union calls for a boycott, we will support them in that collective action then.
I understand, and it’s not for me to tell you what you should do. Just letting you know why I’m not backing your first kickstarter in living memory is all. I’m sad.
Sadly, I have to join Simon. Evil Hat has done some commendably ethical things in the past and I’m sure you guys are doing what you think is best at the moment, but given Kickstarter’s response, I won’t be pledging anything at all until the situation evolves. Right now, we’re already at the point of “we don’t recognize any union at all”.
I understand Carlos. We will continue sticking with our position as the union organizers have made it clear that a boycott now harms the employees and the union’s efforts far more than it hurts Kickstarter management. Where the union goes, we go.
After the Kickstarter is over I’m sure we’ll make it possible for people to buy in on a site that puts no money towards KS.