Can Amazon union find foothold in NC?

Hey all! I’m Brian Gordon and this week’s Open Source newsletter (that’s the new name we’re going with!) is all about jobs. Jobs coming in. Jobs likely going away. And jobs that might unionize. Plus, a story in which the Indonesian government was more responsive than Epic Games.

Jobs in, jobs out

The insurance giant MetLife plans to add around 400 jobs to its Global Technology Campus in Cary, the company said Wednesday.

But some job forecasts are gloomier elsewhere. Layoffs are expected at the Durham-based telecommunications company Avaya after the company expressed “substantial doubt” it can continue operating following disappointing third quarter earnings.

“It’s stressful,” a local Avaya employee told me. “It’s frustrating. It’s hard to plan really much of anything because you don’t know what the team is going to look like and who’s going to be where and what resources they’ll have.”

Workers unite

Amazon workers at a massive facility in Garner want to unionize. A pair of employees started Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, or C.A.U.S.E. with the hopes of organizing the 5,000-worker facility.

But they have a long road ahead. Historically, organizing in North Carolina or at Amazon hasn’t been easy sledding.

Epic unblocked in Indonesia

Epic Games, the Cary-based creator of Fortnite, is no longer blocked in the world’s fourth-most populated country. On Tuesday, the company registered with the Indonesian government in accordance with a law some internet rights groups have called invasive.

Short Stuff: The coolest things

NC Chamber is asking for nominations for its annual “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina” contest. If you know a very cool thing, submit it here.

Innovate Durham announced its most diverse cohort this week. Innovate Durham is a 16-week program where startups bring creative solutions to tackle local issues in the Bull City, from e-commerce in the metaverse to mental health.

Other Triangle Tech News:

  • Apple to occupy 4-story Durham building as Triangle footprint grows [Triangle Business Journal]

  • North Carolina a ‘favored player’ in race for chip firms, site selection expert says [WRAL TechWire]

  • Raleigh Startup Secmation Wins $1.8M Contract With U.S. Air Force [GrepBeat]

National Tech Happenings

  • A former Twitter manager was convicted of spying for Saudi Arabia after passing on information about thousands of accounts. [USA Today]

  • Amazon bought the company that makes Roombas, which has privacy experts concerned. [Insider]

  • The EV momentum goes beyond cars as more people are swapping automobiles for electric “e-bikes”. [WSJ]

Philanthropy funds the Innovate Raleigh fellowship. Consider supporting philanthropy-funded journalism by going to newsobserver.com/donate.

Podcast Pick of the Week

Meta, parent company of Facebook, is likely coming to the Triangle (they won’t say for sure, but there’s evidence). This season, the podcast “Land of The Giants” is looking at the company’s controversial past and present.

Personal Note

International Cat Day was Monday. Here’s my Pumpkin:

Pumpkin the Cat is studying quantum computing at NC State.
Pumpkin the Cat is studying quantum computing at NC State.

Thanks for reading!

This newsletter was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Learn more; go to bit.ly/newsinnovate