Around 80 Google Help subcontractors who recently voted to unionize with the Alphabet Workers Union-Communications Workers of America (AWU-CWA) found out last week that they will be laid off.
    • irkli@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Lol, when Google used that phrase we knew what they were trying to paper over.

      Notice it doesn’t say “don’t DO evil” which is an entirely different, and accountable, thing.

  • linearchaos@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    How does a contract union even work? Isn’t the whole point of contractors that it’s a less binding temporary position that can be terminated if needed?

    • ShortPants@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Surprised this wasn’t talked about in the article or anywhere else in the comments. I feel like it doesn’t make sense for contractors to unionize during a contract job as that would change the terms of the contract.

      • Rachelhazideas@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 years ago

        Many contractors for Alphabet companies do functionally the same work as employees yet get paid a fraction with a fraction of the benefits. Several friends of mine who are contractors and employees have affirmed that the work contractors do is for the most part very similar and both agree that this is a fucked up situation for the contractors.

        Think of it like gig economy drivers who are frequently exploited for ‘contract based work’ when the reality is that this is a full time job for many drivers in everything but pay.

    • Captain_Patchy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      How does a contract union even work?

      It works because a company far too transparently pretends that “contractors” aren’t employees. I also helps to prove to be BS when the “company being contracted to” sets the rules of employment and decides who is a suitable “contractor” and who is not.