Google, under Alphabet, has been found to have violated US labour law for not engaging in negotiations with a union representing contract workers at YouTube Music, as ruled by the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) on 3 January, 2024.
The NLRB denied Google’s argument that it shouldn’t be seen as the employer of the workers supplied by Cognizant Technology Solutions.
Google has opted not to engage in bargaining, aiming to bring the case back to the NLRB, as employers cannot appeal decisions in election cases. However, the NLRB ruled on 3 January 2024, that the company had not presented any new issues warranting a review. In response, Google stated that it intends to seek a review of the ruling from a federal appeals court.
In April of last year, a unanimous vote of 41-0 among YouTube Music content operation workers led them to join the Alphabet Workers Union, established three years ago for organising company employees.
The NLRB affirmed the election results in July, dismissing Google’s argument that it lacked sufficient control over the workers to be designated as a “joint employer” obligated to negotiate with their union.
The company stated that it’s fine if Cognizant workers want to join a union, but Google thinks it’s Cognizant’s job, as the employer, to talk and negotiate with the union.
