A group of over 200 Google and Alphabet workers have announced their plan to form a union, open to both employees and contractors

A group of more than 200 Google and Alphabet workers have announced the formation of the Alphabet Workers Union, The New York Times first reported.

TechCrunch 2021-01-05 Megan Rose Dickey

Context & Ripple Effects

The Alphabet Workers Union begins as an organizing vehicle for both direct employees and contractors, a boundary that later became central when Accenture-employed Google contractors sought to organize with the union. Related coverage also shows the effort expanding beyond the US through an alliance of unions in 10 countries, while creating friction among some US members over that affiliation.

The formation matters because it gives Google workers a common structure before formal bargaining recognition. That path later produced the union's first NLRB-recognized bargaining unit among Google Fiber workers.

First-order effects

More than 200 Google and Alphabet workers gain the Alphabet Workers Union as a shared organization, with contractors eligible to participate alongside employees.
Google faces a worker organization designed to address issues across its direct and contracted workforce rather than within a single employment category.

Second-order effects

Contracting firms serving Google, including Accenture in the later coverage, become more exposed to organizing campaigns that frame Alphabet as a joint employer.
The union's contractor-inclusive model gives future workplace campaigns a route around the split between Google's payroll workforce and vendor-managed workers.

Third-order effects

The later Google Fiber recognition suggests a progression from a broad employee-and-contractor network toward discrete formal bargaining units, potentially making worker representation more durable inside Alphabet's operating structure.
International coordination can widen the union's reach, but the reported US-member dispute over Alpha Global shows that cross-border alliances also test the cohesion of company-specific organizing.

The trend: Alphabet worker organizing is moving from a cross-workforce advocacy network toward contractor campaigns, international coordination, and formal bargaining units.

Discussion

@alphabetworkers @alphabetworkers on x
We're Alphabet workers. We've been organizing for over a year, & we're finally ready to share why. This morning, we're announcing #AWU, the first union open to *all* workers at any Alphabet company. Every worker deserves a union—including tech workers. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@code_cwa Code-Cwa on x
Today we are proud to announce our historic partnership with @AlphabetWorkers— the first union for ALL workers at @Google. Workers have been building the Alphabet Workers Union for a while, and we're excited for what's to come. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@timnitgebru Timnit Gebru on x
“Google's director of people operations, said: “We've always worked hard to create a supportive and rewarding workplace for our work force. Of course, our employees have protected labor rights that we support.” Ver funny: “rights that we support.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@alphabetworkers @alphabetworkers on x
We'll be open to *all* Alphabet workers—full-time employees & TVCs. If you're a worker at any Alphabet company, join us. https://alphabetworkersunion.org/
@zoeschiffer Zo Schiffer on x
Google workers are unionizing (!!) In the announcement, they're calling out controversial government contracts like Project Maven, and the sudden firing of @timnitGebru in December: https://twitter.com/...
@alexhanna Dr. Alex Hanna on x
I'm a Google employee and, now, a proud card-carrying member of the Alphabet Workers Union. Tech workers need a union because we can't rely on the good graces of tech leaders to do right by us and society. https://twitter.com/...
@transgamerthink Heather Alexandra on x
Unambiguously good. Doubly so since membership extends to contractors. https://gizmodo.com/...
@alphabetworkers @alphabetworkers on x
Yet problems persist. We still have discrimination, harassment, & retaliation at Google. Over half our workforce are TVCs—paid less, w/fewer benefits, for often the exact same work. A few at the top are getting enormously rich while others see nothing of that wealth.
@alphabetworkers @alphabetworkers on x
The past few years at Google have been tumultuous: secret military AI projects, multi-million dollar payouts to execs who sexually harassed our coworkers, profiting from hate speech, & more. Coworkers who've voiced concerns have even been fired, illegally, as retaliation.
@vicenews @vicenews on x
The union will be open to all 120,000 workers at Alphabet, including contractors known as ‘TVCs’ who make up half of Google's workforce but are not afforded the same benefits and rights as Google employees. https://www.vice.com/...
@choffmanuni Christy Hoffman on x
What a great way to start 2021. Workers of @google have come together to form a union, affiliated with @CWAUnion. Its is a natural next step after so many other efforts to fix problems- Way to go! https://www.nytimes.com/...
@gigworkersrise Gig Workers Rising on x
This is right: *all* tech workers deserve a union—drivers, software engineers, security, cafeteria workers, everyone who makes these tech companies move. Solidarity with all the Alphabet workers at #AWU! https://twitter.com/...
@balkissoon Denise Balkissoon on x
“We care deeply about what we build and what it's used for. We are responsible for the technology we bring into the world.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@alphabetworkers @alphabetworkers on x
Our executive chair & vice chair in the NYT this morning, explaining why we're building on past organizing at Google & starting #AWU. “We are joining together—temps, vendors, contractors, and full-time employees—to create a unified worker voice.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Vox Shirin Ghaffary on x
Google's new union, briefly explained
@ekp Ellen K. Pao on x
Change is coming. Google's new union sends a strong message that “could have huge impacts not just for the workers, but for the broader issues that we are all thinking about in terms of tech power in society” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@raxsha @raxsha on x
The rumors are true— we've unionized!! I'm a proud card-carrying member of @AlphabetWorkers and I'm ready to make Google a more democratic and equitable place for workers and the world. Here's my thread on why #AWU is so important to me 🧵🧵🧵 https://twitter.com/... https://twitter…
@ewarren Elizabeth Warren on x
When giant corporations like Google have too much power, it's bad for innovation, bad for consumers—and bad for their workers. I'm standing in solidarity with Google workers as they fight back by unionizing. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@berniesanders Bernie Sanders on x
I stand in solidarity with @AlphabetWorkers who are organizing to form a union at Google. What these workers are fighting for is not radical. They want fair wages and a workplace free from abuse, retaliation, intimidation and discrimination. And that is exactly what they deserve.
@mattyglesias Matthew Yglesias on x
Big tech companies like Google are genuinely ideal candidates for unionization. Yes the workers are already well-paid. But unlike with the recent move toward digital media unions, Google (and Facebook etc) actually has enormous profits to redistribute. https://www.bloomberg.com/.…
@pmddomingos Pedro Domingos on x
The most coddled employees in the world are forming a union, because they think they're not coddled enough: https://techcrunch.com/...
@xor Parker Higgins on x
why is it called a google worker union and not an alphabetic order
@nitashatiku Nitasha Tiku on x
the Alphabet union isn't seeking NLRB certification & won't have collective bargaining rights. some interesting context on minority unions from @CatherineFisk1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@josheidelson Josh Eidelson on x
New Google union is determined to include the contract workers who've become most of Alphabet's workforce, despite the even greater obstacles to such workers winning collective bargaining under U.S. law. For now it plans to advocate for workers without seeking formal bargaining. …
@tha_rami Rami Ismail on x
This is pretty big news in the US tech industry: a Silicon Valley corporation with a newly minted union. Not quite sure how this works across borders, but even if it just North America, it sends a pretty strong signal that tech in the US, too, can unionize. https://twitter.com/..…
@reprokhanna Rep. Ro Khanna on x
Standing with the Alphabet workers bravely speaking out for the rights and transparency every employee should have in their workplace. https://twitter.com/...
@blairreeves Blair Reeves on x
With shareholder control crippled at so many tech firms, employee unions could provide a rare, and much-needed counter-influence on executive power. I hope they're sweating over at Facebook.
@sensherrodbrown Sherrod Brown on x
I stand in solidarity with the workers at Google who today launched the @AlphabetWorkers labor union - an important step in their fight for a fair workplace. Google needs to recognize this union, and fire the union-busting “consultants” they hired to intimidate employees. https:/…
@karlitaliliana Karla Monterroso on x
This is an incredibly big deal. My joy goes out to all the folks who labored over this in an already intense year. Can't think of a more important time to have worker solidarity and presence in decision making. https://twitter.com/...
@danpriceseattle Dan Price on x
Google and Amazon have fired employees for organizing unions and even hired spy agencies to find organizers. Now employees are fighting back by forming small unions. Ask yourself: Why would a company go to such great lengths to block your labor rights? https://www.nytimes.com/...
@seth_rosenthal Seth Rosenthal on x
if you are interested in organizing in your workplace, but feel like you lack recourse because employees are contractors, this seems like a story worth following https://twitter.com/...
@jasonschreier Jason Schreier on x
Wow, Google workers are organizing https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@senatorbaldwin Sen. Tammy Baldwin on x
This is an important day for tech workers across our country. I'm standing in solidarity with @AlphabetWorkers, @CWAUnion, @CODE_CWA and all of the organizers and workers whose hard work and perseverance made this union possible. https://twitter.com/...
@grimkim Kim Kelly on x
This is huge for a number of reasons, but I'm particularly struck by the industrial-style scope of their organizing. The wall-to-wall union organizing model—in which *every* worker at a shop is included regardless of job title—is the future (and should already be the goal!). http…
@rweingarten Randi Weingarten on x
“The only tactic that has ensured workers are respected and heard is collective action.” Standing in solidarity with Google workers as they form a union. https://www.vice.com/...
@gartenberg Michael Gartenberg on x
@jowyang Are these “white collar” workers? I know there weee attempts a unionizing various groups at Apple (such as security) & the idea was consistently rejected by the workers. I don't see engineers unionizing, am I missing something?
@josheidelson Josh Eidelson on x
New: Google workers are launching a new union with the Communications Workers of America, open to all employees and contractors at parent company Alphabet https://www.bloomberg.com/... @CWAUnion
@joshuatopolsky Joshua Topolsky on x
This is really something — absolutely historic for the tech industry. Also love that the Googler in the NYT story is doing a Zoom call on a Surface. Ouch. https://www.inputmag.com/...
@bafeldman Brian Feldman on x
google employees unionizing is cool but i have some questions https://twitter.com/...
@slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x
BOOM. Google workers formed a union. This is incredible for worker's rights, but also for the world. Holding big tech companies to account for their actions has to happen from within, not just from the outside. Huge step forward. https://twitter.com/...
@bigblackjacobin Edward Ongweso Jr on x
Great news to start off your evening: Communication Workers of America have helped organize the first major union at a tech company open to all workers. “The only tactic that has ensured workers are respected and heard is collective action” https://www.vice.com/...
@nitashatiku Nitasha Tiku on x
nearly 280 workers from Google and other Alphabet subsidiaries launched the @AlphabetWorkers union, a move that could push tech worker organizing beyond petitions and protests https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@micsolana Mike Solana on x
a tiny fraction of google employees appropriating the language of exploited coal miners while enjoying the most privileged, white collar work experience in human history should not be the subject of glowing press. this isn't a union, it's a LARP. and it's offensive.
@attorneycrump Ben Crump on x
Many employees have called out @Google for POC workplace discrimination. Now 200+ staffers are unionizing to demand structural change! Corporations cannot continue to silence victims of discrimination. We must join together and give voice to the voiceless! https://www.nytimes.com…
@nytopinion @nytopinion on x
More than 200 Google employees have formed a union. “For far too long, thousands of us at Google — and other subsidiaries of Alphabet, Google's parent company — have had our workplace concerns dismissed by executives,” write Parul Koul and Chewy Shaw. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@redlianak Liana on x
The statement seems extremely concerned with greater politics instead of workplace conditions. I think that was a mistake. They could have made a stronger case if they'd just focused on things unions can actually do something about: wages, hours, job security.
@rashadrobinson Rashad Robinson on x
As always, we stand with workers unionizing for protections in the workplace. Black workers at Google especially must be compensated fairly and protected from retaliation. Support to them as they work to change the rules and to people like @TimnitGebru who are due justice. https:…
@mr_james_c @mr_james_c on x
@WorkMJ I totally get the point of unions for low wage workers - you're fighting to win and maintain basic rights. But reading some of the stuff about tech workers unionising the things they're fighting for seem more... erm... self actualising.
@pt Parker on x
So they've basically created a Facebook group? https://www.axios.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@aaschapiro Avi Asher-Schapiro on x
It's significant that Google's new union will try & bring together full-time employees with Google's Temporary, Vendor or Contractor (TVC) contract workforce, which actually outnumbers Google's full time staff. https://twitter.com/...
@govmurphy Governor Phil Murphy on x
Unions are the backbone of a stronger and fairer economy, and a ladder to the middle class. Congratulations to @AlphabetWorkers on joining with @CWAUnion to organize an inclusive union at @Google. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@mattdpearce Matt Pearce on x
“Our union will be open to all Alphabet workers, regardless of classification. About half of the workers at Google are temps, vendors or contractors.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@nytimes @nytimes on x
In Opinion “We joined Alphabet because we wanted to build technology that improves the world,” write the executive and vice chairs of a newly formed union of Google workers. “Yet time and again, company leaders have put profits ahead of our concerns.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@bp22 Bill Perkins on x
Imagine that, a for profit company put profits ahead of their reasons for joining the company and their concerns 😟 https://twitter.com/...
@cgreensit Charlotte Greensit on x
Today, we're building on years of organizing efforts at Google to create a formal structure for workers. via @NYTOpinion https://www.nytimes.com/...
@byjacobward Jacob Ward on x
“We care deeply about what we build and what it's used for. We are responsible for the technology we bring into the world. And we recognize that its implications reach far beyond the walls of Alphabet.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@flyingwithsara Sara Nelson on x
“So far, 226 of us have signed union cards with the ⁦⁦@CWAUnion⁩ — the first step in winning a recognized bargaining unit under U.S. law. In other words, we are forming a union.” And we are with you! #1u https://www.nytimes.com/...

Chronicles