
United Tech Alliances: Advocating Workplace Rights

Muslim Tech Fest (MTF) 2024 provided a platform for various organisations to connect with the Muslim tech community and promote their mission. For United Tech Alliances (UTA), a not-for-profit focused on advocating for workplace rights, MTF London 2024 was a unique opportunity to educate attendees about their rights at work, foster union membership, and raise awareness of the importance of unionising in the tech industry. In this case study, we explore how UTA’s presence at MTF helped them engage with tech workers, spread their message, and secure new members.
A Mission of Advocacy at MTF London
For UTA, the main objective of sponsoring MTF London 2024 was clear: to connect with Muslim tech workers and educate them about their workplace rights, especially in relation to advocacy for causes such as Palestine. As Deji Olayinka, a representative of UTA, shared, “It was great being able to connect with that many Muslim people in tech.”
The event served as a key platform to distribute their Advocating for Palestine at Work guide, aimed at informing tech professionals of their legal protections in the workplace. UTA’s presence highlighted the union’s commitment to supporting workers facing challenges and offering them the tools to navigate workplace issues with confidence.
Reaching the Right Audience: Empowering Tech Workers
UTA’s goal at MTF was not just to distribute information but also to encourage tech professionals to join their union. Olayinka explained, “Primarily, it was about reaching Muslim workers in tech who may be having issues in the workplace, and showing them the value of being part of a union.” The engagement was not just theoretical—UTA saw real results, with some attendees joining the union during the event.
UTA also mentioned they were able to track new memberships, Olayinka reflected positively on the turnout: “A few people did join the union, which was great to see.”
Raising Awareness: Building a Presence in the Tech World
One of the key benefits for UTA was raising awareness about their existence as a resource for tech workers. As Olayinka noted, “Many people didn’t know there was a union for them, and the event allowed us to say, ‘we’re here for you.’” This was a critical step for UTA, as unionising is often associated with public sector jobs, not the tech industry. By being present at MTF, UTA was able to shift that perception and build credibility among a new audience.
The exposure not only led to direct conversations with tech workers, but also started broader discussions about the need for unionisation in the industry, which Olayinka hopes will grow in future events.
Looking Ahead: UTA’s Commitment to Muslim Tech Workers
Reflecting on the overall experience, UTA expressed enthusiasm about sponsoring MTF again in the future. Olayinka explained, “Now that we’ve done it once, next year we want to hit it again and put more resources into it.” The event served as a launching pad for their future efforts to engage with Muslim tech professionals, build their membership base, and continue advocating for workers’ rights.
Key Takeaways:
- Educational Impact: UTA used MTF as an opportunity to educate Muslim tech professionals about their workplace rights, distributing valuable resources like the Advocating for Palestine at Work guide.
- Union Membership: A number of attendees joined UTA during the event, demonstrating the effectiveness of face-to-face engagement in driving union participation.
- Raising Awareness: UTA’s presence at MTF helped raise awareness about unionisation in the tech industry, particularly among Muslim workers who might not have known a union existed.

Arfah Farooq
Co-Founder of Muslim Tech Fest
Arfah Farooq is the co-founder of Muslim Tech Fest, Europe’s biggest gathering of Muslims shaping the tech world, and Muslamic Makers, a community helping Muslim changemakers thrive in tech and beyond. With a background in both public and private sectors, Arfah has launched impactful initiatives like the Number 10 Innovation Fellowship and a 1,500-strong product and delivery manager network for the UK Government. Recognized as one of Computer Weekly’s Top 11 Most Influential Women in Tech (2023) and a London Tech Week Changemaker (2018), Arfah is passionate about creating spaces where diversity drives innovation. When she’s not building communities, she’s researching and advocating for the next generation of Muslim women in tech as a Winston Churchill Fellow.