Several employees from YouTube Music filed for union recognition and sought bargaining power after having 58 signs of union cards, together with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Google and YouTube logos are seen at the entrance to the Google offices in Los Angeles, California, November 21, 2019. - YouTube Space LA is one of ten facilities worldwide where content creators can produce video content, learn new skills, and collaborate with the YouTube community. YouTube Space and its resources are available at no charge to YouTubers with at least 10,000 subscribers. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
YouTube Music Workers
Fifty-eight employees from YouTube Music Content Operations have signed to file for union recognition as they aim to seek bargaining power. Based on a report by Engadget, these workers filed with National Labor Relations Board in Austin, Texas.
The Alphabet Workers Union-Communications Workers of America (AWU-CWA) said in a statement that "As a part of the YouTube Music Content Operations team, workers ensure music content is available and approved for YouTube's 2.1 billion monthly active users worldwide."
Through these rights, Alphabet might recognize the union of the workers' bargaining unit. As per the same report, workers are paying AWU-CWA dues as they seek these rights. The hearing will be conducted on November 14th as NLRB scheduled.
AWU-CWA was originally formed in January 2021, and it now has 1,200 members that are Alphabet workers from different positions, including full-time, temporary, vendors, and contractor employees. This union's goal is for the workers to have dignity on the job, receive deserving pay and benefits, and have a seat at the table. As per the union, they will not stop organizing until all workers will have these rights.
Meanwhile, Google Software Engineer and AWU-CWA Executive Chair Parul Koul welcomed the newly added workers in the union from the YouTube Music Content Operations team. He stated that "Google platforms like YouTube have largely been a success thanks to the labor and efforts of the thousands of contract workers that ensure quality content while being denied their fair share."
Other Unions from Alphabet Inc.
KIRKLAND, WA - OCTOBER 28: Google employees and contractors fill the cafeteria at Google Kirkland October 28, 2009 in Kirkland, Washington. More than 350 employees work in the Kirkland facility, which includes amenities such as a climbing wall, gym and soda fountain, and consolidates several offices throughout Kirkland. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
KIRKLAND, WA - OCTOBER 28: Google employees and contractors fill the cafeteria at Google Kirkland October 28, 2009 in Kirkland, Washington. More than 350 employees work in the Kirkland facility, which includes amenities such as a climbing wall, gym and soda fountain, and consolidates several offices throughout Kirkland.
During the pandemic, a quiet union has been organized from cafeteria workers from a Google office in Atlanta. Despite it being quiet unionization, 4,000 workers have gathered, which is about 90% of the total food services workers at Google. According to the report, most workers that are part of this union are contractual and do not get to receive the same benefits as full-time employees.
They have also requested the company to higher wages and increase the protections. These workers from Atlanta could be the latest addition of workers to join the ranks of unionized groups. Aside from this, Google Fiber employees in Kansas City have also voted to unionize with AWU-CWA in March.
Just this month, a report from Gizmodo alleges Google on firing workers because of union discussions and a fight over benefits, which was filed by AWU-CWA in National Labor Relations Board. No confirmation from Google if the allegations from the union are true as they did not respond to any request to comment.
