December 5, 2011: Start on the Redmond campus of the Microsoft's
lab to certify apps for the Windows Store (10 Tier 1 employees supplied by
Lionbridge Technologies)
December 12, 2012: Email to Dan Bross (Microsoft Corporate
Citizenship and Public Affairs) about Microsoft's commitment to Human Rights
via the UN Global Compact (article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights: “Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable
limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay”)
January 1st, 2013: Creation of the blog Campaign for the right to paid
holidays for all employees in the US
August 2nd, 2013: Marilyse B is fired by Lionbridge after having
asked for benefits for the Tier 1 employees. Soon later she files a charge with
NLRB against Lionbridge for retaliation.
January 2014: NLRB finds in favor of Marilyse. She settles with
Lionbridge and the charge is abandoned.
March 2014: Beginning of the organizing drive for TWA with the
creation and collection of authorizing cards.
August 1st 2014: TWA files with NLRB the petition to organize a
vote for the union. Creation of the blog Lionbridge Union to communicate with fellow lab
workers.
September 11, 2014: vote in favor of TWA as union representing
Tier1 Lionbridge Technologies employees in the Windows Store App Certification
lab in Redmond (at the time).
October 11, 2014: Publication of The Other Microsoft by
Philippe Boucher (Blurb.com and Kindle versions)
October 14, 2014: Bill Gates publishes on his blog 'Why inequality matters',
his review of Thomas Piketty's book, Capital in the 21st century.
November 7, 2014: Philippe Boucher is disciplined by Lionbridge
with a 'written warning' for The Other Microsoft because it 'unacceptably
disparaged Microsoft and Lionbridge'.
November 8: contact via email with Microsoft's Board of
Directors about the lack of paid leave for supplier's employees, situation
described in The Other Microsoft.
November 14, 2014: collective bargaining first meeting
December 11, 204: Philippe Boucher files a discrimination charge
against Lionbridge for the 'written warning' about The Other Microsoft.
December 18, 2014: collective bargaining second meeting
January 7, 2015: collective bargaining 3rd meeting
January 13, 2015: Article in the Boston Globe 'Microsoft
labmates bargain for benefits'
January 15, 2015: Article in the Seattle Times 'Labor issues at
Microsoft prompt talks of policy changes'
February 3: Opening of a blog for Temporary Workers of America
February 10: collective bargaining 4th meeting in the presence
of attorney Dmitri Iglitzin (with financial support of AFL-CIO) to advise TWA
February 27: collective bargaining 5th meeting: Lionbridge
initial proposal with zero paid leave of any kind (in the presence of Danielle
Franco-Malone to advise TWA)
March 10, 2015: Publication of L'Autre Moitié de Microsoft
(French version of The Other Microsoft) on Amazon-Kindle.
March 24, 2015: Presentation of TWA for the students of the
Design for Social Change class at Cornish School of the Arts: they are going to
produce images and video clips pro bono for TWA.
March 24, 2015: Article about Lionbridge CEO 2014 compensation
March 24, 2015: Charge for bargaining in bad faith filed with
NLRB by TWA against Lionbridge (for refusing to provide the contract with
Microsoft and the amount Microsoft pays for each employee). Charge withdrawn on
May 19.
March 26: Brad Smith's Announcement about Microsoft new
requirement that suppliers provide at least 15 days of paid time off to their
employees
March 27, 2015: several articles about TWA, in the Seattle
Times, the Washington Post, etc.
March 30, 2015: Creation of the blog Paid Time Off Matters to monitor the implementation of
Microsoft's announcement.
April 16, 2015: Microsoft CEO invited to the White House as
'champion of change' because of their new paid leave requirement for their
suppliers
May 1st, 2015: Article in Business Week Bloomberg News:
'Microsoft's contract workers are organizing'
May 12, 2015: Facebook announcement about their new policy
requiring paid time off and providing paid parental leave for their suppliers
employees
May 16, 2015: Article in the Seattle Times, "Image says it
all for Microsoft temps', about the images produced by the
Cornish Students.
May 19, 2015: TWA withdraws its charge against Lionbridge for
bargaining in bad faith.
May 22, 2015: TWA petition to Microsoft on coworking.org: Memorial Day should be a paid
holiday for all 40.000 Microsoft temporary workers
May 29, 2015: collective bargaining 6th meeting; cancelled at
the last minute on the advice of our attorneys because there was only one union
representative available
May 29, 2015: Lionbridge files with NLRB a charge against TWA
for bargaining in bad faith
June 8, 2015: Department of Labor explains
how the lack of paid leave disproportionally impacts low wage workers
June 9, 2015: Disengagement letter from attorneys Dmitri
Iglitzin and Danielle Franco-Malone, ending legal advice for TWA.
June 30, 2015: Lionbridge contract with Microsoft is renewed.
TWA is informed by a Microsoft employee that it contains a clause requiring
Lionbridge to provide at least 15 days of paid time off.
July17, 2015: collective bargaining 7th meeting: Lionbridge now
includes 15 days of paid time off in its proposal.
August 2, 2015: Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft Executive Vice
President for HR, announces new benefits (2
new paid holidays and extendend paid parental leave of 12 weeks) for Microsoft
'direct' employees
August 13, 2015: Microsoft Chief Procurement
Officer Mike Simms writes about policy changes for US
suppliers (including the 15 days of PTO requirement)
August 20, 2015: collective bargaining 8th meeting: TWA accepts
Lionbridge contract proposal.
August 26, 2015: TWA petition to Microsoft 'Stop paid leave
discrimination' launched
on coworker.org.
August 27, 2015: NLRB decision in Browning-Ferris Industries
(Joint Employment criteria)
September 3, 2015: Testimony in support of Marilyse in front of
the Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals about her
occupational injury claim for incapacitating repetitive stress syndrom.
September 8, 2015: Lionbridge informs TWA that they have
received 'some further elaboration from Microsoft as to its expectations'
concerning the PTO requirement. Finalizing the contract proposal should
therefore take 'a few more days'.
September 21, 2015: Lionbridge sends their contract proposal to TWA
September 23, 2015: TWA expresses concerns about the wording of the
confidentiality clause (article 5) and the clause about the use of PTO (article
7)
October 17, 2015: TWA invites Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s HR Executive
Vice President to attend the next collective bargaining meeting on October 23 as
joint employer
October 23, 2015: two hours before the meeting Mike Simms, Microsoft’s
Chief Procurement Officer (see August 13) declines via email TWA’s request,
stating Microsoft is not a joint employer.
October 23, 2015: article in the Seattle Times: Microsoft declines union invitation to the bargaining table
September 3, 2015: Testimony in support of Marilyse in front of the Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals about her occupational injury claim (for incapacitating repetitive stress syndrom)
October 17, 2015: TWA invites Microsoft to attend the next collective bargaining meeting as a joint employer.
October 23, 2015: Microsoft declines the invitation to the bargaining table for the ninth collective bargaining meeting taking place that very day
October 26, 2015: TWA polls its own members about Microsoft as a joint employer (80% agree they are) and if TWA should ask NLRB to determine Microsoft’s joint employer status (90% support such a filing).
October 28: TWA files a charge against Microsoft with NLRB for refusing to bargain as a joint employer - Case 19-CA-162985
November 3r 2015: Confidential Witness Affidavit given to NLRB
November 9, 2015: Lionbridge attracts hedge fund billionaire Lee Cooperman for a 7% stake of $23 million (Boston Business Journal). Lionbridge announces a $50 million share
repurchase program
November 12, 2015: Employees refuse to ratify the tentative bargaining agreement (20 NO and 5 YES)
November 19, 2015: Lionbridge decides to implement the 15 days of paid time off provision despite the rejection of the bargaining agreement. TWA does not object.
November 21, 2015: Thanksgiving @ Microsoft: the stinging bitterness of an unpaid holiday.
December 10, 2015: Human Rights Day. TWA explains again why Microsoft is in violation of its commitment to respect human rights as stated in the Universal Declaration and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (articles 7d and 10.2)
December 22, 2015: How much did Microsoft and Lionbridge save/take from their employees by not providing paid leave nor paid public holidays? Up to $17.600 for 4 year employee.
January 3, 2016: Results of the 20 question survey about working conditions of Tier1 employees in the Windows App Certification Lab
January 4, 2016: Microsoft's temporary workers 3 wishes for 2016
January 18, 2016: Martin Luther King Jr. Day @ Microsoft: help end paid leave discrimination.
January 19, 2016: Letter to Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments that holds 10% of Lionbridge Technologies
January 19, 2016: Email to Sandi Peterson, new member of Microsoft Board of Directors (followed by letter)
January 25, 2016: SS-8 request to the IRS for Determination of Worker Status for Microsoft and Lionbridge
January 28, 2016: Comparing Microsoft's parental leave benefits with Lionbridge: 20 weeks to zero. Launch of a Corporate Social Responsibility campaign targeting FU companies (Family Unfriendly)
February 12, 2016: letter to Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation
February 13, 2016: email to John Stanton, new member of Microsoft Board of Directors
March 6, 2016: Email to Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia (Episcopal Church) about a shareholder activism initiative toward Microsoft
March 8, 2016: Email contact with Paul Benz, Co-Executive Director of Fait Action Network about a shareholder activism initiative
March 12, 2016: Attending FAN meeting in Port Townsend
March 20, 2016: Email to Sister Judy Byron, Coordinator of the NorthWest Coalition for Responsible Investment (reminder on March 30) emails sent via IPJC (Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center) then directly on April 28.
March 21, 2016: Meeting with George Robertson, Chair, Board of Directors of the Diocesan Investment Fund for the Diocese of Olympia
March 23, 2016: Email to Josh Zinner, ED of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (reminder on March 30 and end of April)
March 24, 2016: Email from NLRB: they are still waiting for Microsoft answer to the joint employer charge. Expect it by the end of March, with their decision possibly by the end of April.
March 31, 2016: Panel member at the University of Washington screening of 'A day's work", documentary film about temp workers
April 5, 2016: Meeting with Karen Eaton, Deacon, Grace Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island
April 6, 2016: Email to Jeff Johnson, President Washington State Labor Council
April 12, 2016: Lionbridge HR Susan Gillespie has 'questions and answers' meeting with a few Tier1 employees where she informs them of a change in the temporary workers classification: after 9 months they become 'regular' employees, except in our unit because of the ongoing collective bargaining process. The same impossibility, according to her, applies to eventual pay raises.
April 13, 2016: Brief for the Board of Directors of the Diocesan Investment Fund for the Diocese of Olympia
April 22, 2016: Answer from the Board of Directors of the Diocesan Investment Fund for the Diocese of Olympia asking for FAN's decision, expressing preference for legislative action.
April 27, 2016: Paul Benz co-executive director of FAN refers us to Sister Judy Byron, Program Coordinator of the NorthWest Coalition for Responsible Investment (see March 20, 2016)
April 28, 2016: Email to Sister Judy Byron and Father Mike Crosby including link to Jessica Northall Ted presentation (Mike Crosby is with the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility that organizes shareholder activism)
May 2, 2016: Second Q&A meeting by Susan Gillespie where she confirms what she said on April 12. A Tier1 employee shares an email she sent to him about those issues.
May 2, 2016: Request for information about when and how the change of policy was decided and how employees were informed (or not).
May 26, 2016: Tenth collective bargaining meeting. Lionbridge announces the existence of a petition to decertify the union (in the context of Lionbridge's argument that no raises nor change in classification could happen because of the union and the bargaining process). Lionbridge conditions signing any contract agreement to the union dropping the charge of joint employment against Microsoft and stop disparaging against Lionbridge and Microsoft.
May 30, 2016: The union files charges against Lionbridge for bargaining in bad faith and a request to block the decertification petition process.
June 13, 2016: Work starts in the new location, on Factoria blvd in Bellevue. This building is not part of Microsoft.
July 4, 2016: Frustrating 4th of July: Paid Holiday discrimination thanks to Microsoft and Lionbridge
July 5, 2016: Philippe Boucher resigns from Lionbridge
July 5, 2016: Meeting with Alfredo Silva, organizer with the International Association of Machinists (AIM), District Lodge 160
July 19, 2016: Microsoft loses its NLRB appeal in Washington DC to revoke the subpoena to produce their contract with Lionbridge. TWA is informed by mail on July 22.
July 26, 2016 : Lionbridge requests a collective bargaining meeting because of upcoming lay offs
July 30, 2016: A tentative agreement is signed to be submitted for ratification on August 3rd.
August 3, 2016: The agreement is ratified 30 to 1
August 4, 2016: TWA withdraws its NLRB charges against Microsoft and Lionbridge
August 4, 2016: Lionbridge reports Q2 results with record revenue of $143.8 million
August 12, 2016: First layoffs: 6 people decide to leave voluntarily and 6 people are laid off involuntarily.
September 21, 2016: Lionbridge announces the lab will be closed by the end of October and all 20 people laid off with 5 losing their jobs immediately. "Reason" given: 'business needs and adjusted volumes". That's less than 2 months after the collective agreement was signed (July 30) and ratified (August 3).
December 3, 2016: The lab in Bellevue closes down, 4 months after the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement.
December 12: Lionbridge announces it is going to be acquired by HIG Capital, a private equity investment form for about $360 million.
December 13, 2016: TWA files charges with NLRB against Lionbridge and Microsoft for unfair labor practices (bargaining in bad faith) and anti-union (retaliation) and again joint employment. Mentioned is the runaway doctrine where a company closes a site to move the work to non-unionized places.
December 20. 2016: Panorama Global receives funding from a prominent US philanthropist (Melinda Gates?) to study how the private sector makes decisions regarding paid leave.
January 23, 2017: The American Enterprise Institute and the Brookings Institution launch a joint blog project: Paid family leave: an issue whose time has come
February 8, 2017: Newly created group, Pay + Leave USA launches its paid leave campaign targeting Starbucks discriminatory policies.
February 16, 2017: TWA files a petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). TAA is a federal program that assists US workers who lose their jobs as a result of foreign trade, like when the worker's firm has shifted provision of services to a foreign country. "This program seeks to provide affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources and support necessary to become reemployed."
February 22: Article in the Seattle Times by Sandi Doughton confirming Melinda Gates concern for paid leave via her personal executive office organization, Pivotal Ventures.
March 1, 2017: Lionbridge's shareholders approve acquisition by HIG Capital.
May 16, 2017: Microsoft announces 'landmark partnership' with the UN Human Rights Office but still does not implement paid family leaves nor paid public holidays for its suppliers employees in the US, contrary to existing UN and ILO conventions.
May 20, 2017: New report by PL+US about The Haves and Havenots of paid family leave in the US.
May 22: Lionbridge and Microsoft file petitions to oppose NLRB's subpoena requesting they communicate contents of their contracts and other documents about the layoffs
July 6, 2017: Department of Labor’s Determination of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance is communicated to TWA. It was signed on June 30.
July 20, 2017: Lionbridge announces the nomination of a new CEO, John Fennelly, effective July 24.
July 24, 2017: Email from Lionbridge's counsel, Tim O'Connell, about the possibility of a settlement that would include a withdrawal of the NLRB charges.
August 15, 2017: Meeting between Union representatives Philippe Boucher and Éric Osnes and Tim O'Connell, Lionbridge's Counsel to discuss an eventual settlement of the ULP and joint employment charges.
October 31, 2017: The union emails Tim O'Connell its proposal for an eventual settlement of the charges filed with NLRB against Lionbridge and Microsoft.
