Born: 1984 or 1985 (Kirkland, Washington)
Cher Scarlett (born 1984 or 1985) is an American workers’ rights activist, software engineer, and writer. She has made a significant impact in the labor movement with her organizing efforts at major tech companies such as Apple, Activision Blizzard, and Starbucks.
Growing up in Kirkland, Washington, Scarlett had a challenging upbringing. Coming from a family of farm laborers with generational poverty in their history, she experienced what it meant to live in difficult circumstances. Her mother, who worked in construction, was the primary caregiver, while her father and step-father were mostly absent from her life. Despite these hardships, Scarlett’s determination and intelligence shone through, and she excelled academically, earning a nearly perfect score on the SAT.
Scarlett developed a passion for science and video gaming during her time at Juanita High School. She dreamt of becoming a scientist and even aspired to go to space after participating in a junior astronaut program. Fueling her love for technology, she took the initiative to teach herself how to code during middle school. This early exposure to web development led her to create a website for her guild in the popular game EverQuest. As a teenager, she continued to experiment with web development on the platform LiveJournal.
Unfortunately, Scarlett faced numerous challenges throughout her adolescence. She endured sexual abuse, battled drug addiction, and eventually dropped out of high school. In 2005, she experienced a horrific incident of commercial sexual exploitation, which pushed her to the brink of despair. However, she managed to find the strength to survive and later provided crucial information to federal authorities that led to the arrest of one of the perpetrators involved.
Prior to starting her career in technology, Scarlett worked as a stripper. However, the path towards motherhood prompted her to make a change in her life. Determined to provide a better future for her child, she engaged in self-taught web development and honed her skills in software engineering. These skills became her pathway to a career, allowing her to overcome the lack of formal education she faced due to dropping out of high school.
As Scarlett began working in the male-dominated tech industry, she became acutely aware of the injustices and inequities present within it. Inspired by her own experiences and observations, she transitioned into becoming a workers’ rights advocate and a critic of technology and corporations. Her first major endeavor was leading the #AppleToo movement, a campaign aimed at gathering and sharing stories of mistreatment from current and former Apple employees. Scarlett also co-founded Apple Together, a solidarity union, where she remains an advisor.
Scarlett’s dedication to workers’ rights led her to file complaints against Apple with the National Labor Relations Board and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She tirelessly fought against the harassment, intimidation, and retaliation she endured during her time at the company, eventually resigning with a settlement that is now defunct. Despite the challenges she faced, Scarlett’s activism has made a significant impact. She successfully lobbied for labor laws in Washington state and advocated for Apple shareholder proposals on civil rights and concealment clauses. These proposals were approved by the company’s shareholders, marking a significant win for workers’ rights.
Cher Scarlett’s story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Her determination to overcome personal struggles and fight for the rights of workers has left an indelible mark on the labor movement. As a software engineer, workers’ rights activist, and writer, she continues to inspire and empower others to challenge the status quo and make meaningful change in their communities.
Awards:
– (Omit)