Google employees have announced their plans to unionise with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). All the employees and contractors at Google’s parent company will be eligible to join the Alphabet Workers Union.
The Union aims to tackle ongoing issues like pay disparity, retaliation, and controversial government contracts.
“This union builds upon years of courageous organizing by Google workers. From fighting the ‘real names’ policy to opposing Project Maven to protesting the egregious, multi-million dollar payouts that have been given to executives who’ve committed s****l harassment, we’ve seen first-hand that Alphabet responds when we act collectively,” according to a Google program manager, Nicki Anselmo.
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Project Maven, an effort to use AI to improve targeted drone strikes, had caused protests among Google employees who regarded the project as unethical. In 2018, Google chose not to renew its contract with the Pentagon. Also, Google put an end to its forced arbitration policy after some 20,000 workers walked out to protest former executive Andy Rubin getting a $90 million exit package after a credible s****l harassment accusation.
The Alphabet Workers Union will unionise with CWA Local 1400; representing workers in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, as well as California.
Just about a month ago, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint alleging Google had illegally fired two workers who were organising employee protests. The employees, Laurence Berland and Kathryn Spiers were organising against Google’s decision to work with IRI Consultants. IRI is well popular for its anti-union efforts. Google also fired AI ethicist Timnit Gebru in December 2020.
Members of the union say they will commit one percent of their annual compensation to the union. The money will go towards paying legal fees as well as organizing staff.
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