The future is DAO: Blockchain and worker rights (feat. TheLaborDAO & theCaféDAO)

Ray and Jonathan sit down with TheLaborDAO founder Larry Williams Jr. and theCaféDAO founders Daniel Carias and Dustin Tong to chat about how decentralized autonomous organizations are reforming collective action and changing the face of labor organizing.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on Twitter at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow TheLaborDAO on Twitter at @thelabordao and theCaféDAO at @theCaféDAO.

Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Chapters

• 0:00 What is The Agenda podcast?
• 0:24 Why is The Agenda podcast interested in the relationship between DAOs and organized labor?
• 3:00 What is the state of unions, workers’ rights and collective action in America?
• 5:07 Are unions still relevant? What are some successful labor movements?
• 9:32 Are unions less relevant and powerful in the United States?
• 12:07 Is there a connection between COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the growth of crypto and the launch of theCaféDAO?
• 15:32 Why did theCaféDAO form, and why might decentralized autonomous organizations help workers?
• 17:38 How does theCaféDAO organize baristas in a decentralized way? How does it use blockchain technology?
• 20:56 Why did TheLaborDAO form, and why is it important for labor organizers to use Web3 technology?
• 27:03 Can a DAO legally and efficiently operate as a business?
• 28:36 Could a labor union be structured as a DAO?
• 35:25 Why is theCaféDAO organized as a DAO rather than a worker cooperative or a traditional corporation with a unionized workforce?
• 37:45 Is it better for workers to launch DAOs or form unions?
• 40:39 Why aren’t the conditions of workers improving in the United States?
• 42:40 What is the future of collective action in America?