UX/UI: Union Eyes

Union Eyes: Encrypted Union Organizing App

Union Eyes is an app prototype that I created with secure union organization in mind. I like the idea of an app that allows for encrypted communication between company employees and provides resources and contacts which can be used to aid in the creation of workplace unions.

Background

Many industries suffer from poor workplace conditions and mistreatment of employers due to exploitation by employers. Unionization can help to mitigate these issues, but many employees who attempt to organize unions are shut down or even terminated from their positions by their employers. Although union-busting is illegal, there are many loopholes for employers. How can we avoid interception from employers?

OBJECTIVES

An app which would allow for encrypted, secure communication and organizing, as well as access to local unions and laws, would allow workers to create unions with more security and protection from retaliation. This would be very valuable in a world where workers are consistently being exploited and taken advantage of.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Union Eyes can benefit any workers who are lacking the support of a labor union. Union leaders need support and security in order to organize a union without risking retaliation from employers. Unions are important for ensuring better working conditions, fair wages, social and political equity in the workplace, job protections, better paid leave benefits, and greater security in exercising their legal rights in the workplace.

USER NEEDS

• Protection from employer infiltration and retaliation of unionizing efforts.
• Connections to local union officials and experts to help with organizing a legally permissible union.
• Access to resources which define the necessary steps and information to form a workplace union.
• Resources for legal protections and defenses should the union organizers face retaliation from employers.

SOLUTIONS

• Information hub: provides employees with legal information about their rights in the workplace and to form unions freely and without discrimination or retaliation from employers.
• Communication platform: provide a secure, encrypted messaging platform for employees to discuss their unionizing efforts. This would allow for employees to schedule meetings and events, host group chats, and use polls to come to conclusive decisions.
• Encryption: this would ensure that it is more difficult for messages sent through the app to be intercepted by outsiders.
• Anonymity: this would allow users to communicate using pseudonyms to avoid detection and targeting in the workplace.