More than ever, employees want a say in how their companies are run

While workers have traditionally looked to unions to address their grievances, a new generation is trusting in the power of petitions to force changes.

Employee petitions are now so popular there’s a website, coworker.org, devoted to hosting them.

Interns at one (unnamed) company described in a blog about being fired en masse after signing a petition asking for a more relaxed dress code.

Companies have become more sophisticated about shutting down unions, and only 6.4% of US private-sector workers are organized. Petitions only work if employers are willing to entertain them, but for many employees, they’re the only way to be heard.