Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), sent a letter to President Biden urging the administration to consider the consequences to American workers of a potential sale or divesture of TikTok. Final passage of the national security supplemental requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to either sell or face a ban on U.S.-based app stores. In light of this, the letter asks President Biden to ensure the plight of thousands of Americans and their families are not forgotten.
“Approximately 8,000 people work for TikTok in the United States, concentrated in California and New York. Their employment and the livelihoods of their families hang in the balance,” wrote Senator Butler. “I write today to call attention to their contributions and to urge you to consider the unintended consequences on workers and allay those concerns as you consider a qualified divestiture.”
In her letter, Senator Butler emphasized the major role workers have played in the overall success of the platform, as well as the advancement in understanding of the national security and data privacy concerns raised by TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Senator Butler pressed President Biden to take a consultative approach in balancing the very serious national security concerns with the labor, economic, and other myriad issues at stake.
“I commend you for committing to be the most pro-labor President in American history,” Senator Butler continued. “As your administration considers a qualified divestiture of TikTok, I urge you to keep in mind the unintended, yet very real and life-changing, consequences on thousands of Americans and their families.”
Read the full letter HERE and below.
Dear President Biden,
I write to urge you to consider the direct labor implications of a sale or divestiture of TikTok, as well as impacts on those workers who might not be directly employed (contracted cleaners, vendors, etc.) but nonetheless harmed by the approval of a sale that does not recognize their presence. Approximately 8,000 people work for TikTok in the United States, concentrated in California and New York. Their employment and the livelihoods of their families hang in the balance. I write today to call attention to their contributions and to urge you to consider the unintended consequences on workers and allay those concerns as you consider a qualified divestiture.
Thus far, the labor implications of a TikTok sale or divestiture have not been part of the broader TikTok conversation, to the detriment of thousands of Americans. These dedicated workers have been crucial to the overall success of the platform, and some have also been essential to advancing our understanding of the national security and data privacy concerns raised by TikTok’s Chinese ownership . In turn, we must acknowledge the impact on TikTok workers, and our local economies, as we determine a path forward. I urge you to engage in a consultative process that balances very serious national security concerns with the labor, economic, and other myriad issues at stake.
I commend you for committing to be the most pro-labor President in American history. As your administration considers a qualified divestiture of TikTok, I urge you to keep in mind the unintended, yet very real and life-changing, consequences on thousands of Americans and their families.
Sincerely,
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