ALPHABET WORKERS UNION
Lawmakers raise alarm at Google plan to acquire Spirit Airlines data for AI models
More than 120 US lawmakers raised concerns about Google's deal to acquire Spirit Airlines' internal data for artificial intelligence. The data included employee records and communications, prompting requests to limit the transaction's scope. Google stated that it does not seek personal information from Spirit employees during the acquisition process. Lawmakers highlighted the importance of protecting worker privacy amid advancements in artificial intelligence technology.
Samsung, labour union meet again as Seoul threatens to intervene to block strike
Samsung Electronics and its labor union are in crucial government-led talks. The aim is to resolve a dispute over pay and bonuses. A strike by 45,000 workers could disrupt global chip production. South Korea's prime minister has threatened emergency intervention. The company's shares fell amid the uncertainty. The union demands higher bonuses and profit sharing.
End of Q-Comm's 10-min era; Google meets Siri
Blinkit drops “10-minute delivery” claim after labour ministry intervention. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Google workers protest company's silence over Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike
Unionised Google staff protested Trump's executive order introducing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas—a 6,600% rise. Around 25 Alphabet Workers Union members gathered in the company’s Lower Manhattan office, criticising Google’s silence. They also urged Google to extend severance for laid-off visa holders, giving them more time to find new jobs before losing legal status.
Google says employees can discuss antitrust case
Google has lifted its ban on employees discussing its antitrust case following a settlement with the Alphabet Workers Union and the NLRB. The change ends restrictions on internal and external discussions, addressing concerns over workplace secrecy and employee fears about job security amid legal proceedings.
Google scraps diversity-based hiring targets
Google had for years been among the most vocal companies pushing for more inclusive policies in the wake of protests against the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020.
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Google should be forced to bargain with contractor's union, US labor agency says
The labor board in January 2024 ruled in a separate case that Google was required to bargain with a group of workers at YouTube Music, which it owns, who were employed by a different staffing firm. A U.S. appeals court will hear Google's appeal of that decision later this month.
Spate of job cuts continues unabated at Big Tech, media firms
The first month of the new year ends with Big Tech and media companies continuing to announce fresh job cuts, a sign that the spate of layoffs seen in 2023 could persist as firms grapple with economic uncertainty.
'Outrageous' CEO pay targeted in new bill from Bernie Sanders, US Democrats
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic lawmakers aim to raise taxes for companies with CEOs earning 50 times more than their workers. The bill would prevent tax avoidance through the use of contractors and generate $150 billion in revenue. Walmart, Google, Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase, Nike, and McDonald's could face higher taxes. The bill needs 60 votes in the Senate, which is narrowly controlled by Democrats, and may encounter resistance in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has not commented on the bill. It would also make CEO-to-worker pay data public for privately held companies.
Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams
Among the affected workers are those working on the voice-based Google Assistant and at the augmented reality hardware team. Workers in the company’s central engineering organization were also hit by the cuts, the company said.
YouTuber sues Google Spain for wrongful dismissal
The lawsuit seeks to demonstrate an employment relationship between Jota, a creator of political satire content whose real name has not been disclosed, and Alphabet's YouTube because he regularly provided his services and received remuneration derived from advertising revenue
Google illegally cut contract staffers who worked on AI, union alleges
The Alphabet Workers Union accused the internet giant of violating federal labor law, which prohibits retaliation against employees for organizing.
Google illegally cut contract employees working on AI, alleges labour union
The workers, whose jobs have included improving the quality of answers in Google’s search engine and artificial intelligence chatbot, are employed through the vendor Accenture Plc.
Google, Amazon struggle to lay off workers in Europe
In Europe, mass layoffs among tech companies have stalled because of labor protections that make it virtually impossible to dismiss people in some countries without prior consultations with employee interest groups.
Google workers in London stage walkout over job cuts
In January, Google's parent company Alphabet announced it was laying off 12,000 employees worldwide, equivalent to 6% of its global workforce.
Google employees write an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai. See details
The workers also asked Alphabet not to fire people from places like Ukraine where there are active wars or humanitarian crises.
Google workers stage walkout at Zurich office as job cuts hit Europe
In January, Google's parent company Alphabet announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs around the world, equivalent to 6% of its global workforce.
Google staff in Zurich stage walkout over layoffs
The workers, with support from trade union Syndicom, walked away from their desks before lunchtime and assembled with placards outside one of two Google offices in the Swiss city, according to union spokesman Dominik Fitze.
YouTube Music contract employees go on strike over unfair labour practices
YouTube Music's content operations team is expected to return to the Austin office early next week. However, Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) said the majority of workers were hired remotely.
Google workers stage rallies against layoffs, low wages: report
The protests came after the company announced the largest layoffs in its history which affected 12,000 positions, or 6% of its global workforce.
Google employees demand resignation of CEO Sundar Pichai
Furious Google employees are demanding resignation of their boss Sundar Pichai over mass layoffs.
Google sets rules for HQ guest speakers after row over Indian historian
Disputes over speakers have roiled Google since at least April, when it said internal rancor prompted it to cancel a talk on India's socioreligious caste system by author Thenmozhi Soundararajan, who advocates for people disadvantaged by caste prejudice.
Google employees petition bosses for abortion policy changes
Alphabet, which employs over 174,000 people globally, has said that though it sets some standards, it cannot fully dictate policies of outside vendors.
Google says it will delete location data when users visit abortion clinics
The overturning of Roe has more broadly renewed questions about how much data and digital trails people have produced, which could be used to surveil or target those who try and get an abortion
'Obscure religious cult' running Google Developer Studio: Report
Kevin Lloyd, a contractor hired as a video producer for GDS, alleged that at least 12 members of an obscure religious cult known as 'Fellowship of Friends' are running the daily operations at the workplace, reports The New York Times.
Tesla to seek investor approval for 3-for-1 stock split
The company also said Oracle Corp co-founder Larry Ellison, a friend of Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, will not stand for re-election to Tesla's board when his term ends at this year's shareholder meeting.
Tesla to seek investor approval for 3-for-1 stock split
Shareholders will vote on Tesla's proposed stock split on Aug. 4. If approved, it would be the company's first such action after a five-for-one split in August 2020.
Can’t afford to return to the office, say Google Maps contract employees
According to a report, around 60% of Cognizant's more than 200 employees have signed a petition refusing to comply with a demand to work for the whole five-day workweek.
Amazon faces record challenges at shareholder meeting
Amazon is a popular holding among ESG-focused funds. About 32% of funds classified as promoting the environment or social justice under European Union rules are invested in Amazon.
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