this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
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[–] [email protected] 78 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Google is sitting on the "but they're contractors!" angle because it makes it easier for them.

Why?

Because once the union does collective bargaining with their actual employer, Cognizant, the company will have almost no recourse but to increase fees to Google for the contract work.

Once this happens, Google just says "Oops, you're shit out of luck" and then hires a whole new company of contracted workers for the same work, for cheaper.

Google purposefully uses this type of structure to ensure they never have to pay more, even when collective bargaining with unions does happen. Because then they can just shitcan the whole company and claim costs were too high. They certainly won't break their contract, but you can bet your ass when time comes to renew it, Google will have found someone new to take their place.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This is exactly how it works. I've seen the same thing go down with another major Google contractor (fortunately as an outsider).

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

I really didn't think we would ever see a return to the days of the robber barons. Now I think that era was but an open mic amateur hour opening for the headliner that's coming.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago

Once the body of that first billionaire hits the floor, they're gonna start dropping like flies.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Google has never been quick to learn lessons, especially when it comes to its workers.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

When it comes to their workers, the Big G does learn its lessons. That's why it's so able to keep screwing them over; they reason from the standpoint of "how do I make this not affect me?"

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Must be why it keeps coming back to bite them in the ass

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Google’s tech union crossed the picket line when their NYC building was getting asbestos removed by scabs. They refused to help the custodial union. They suck, too.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

A Google spokesperson told Motherboard in a statement at the time of the unionization that it had “no objection to these Cognizant workers electing to form a union,” but that it would not bargain with them. “We are not a joint employer as we simply do not control their employment terms or working conditions—this matter is between the workers and their employer, Cognizant,” the spokesperson said.

NLRB seems to disagree. This will be an interesting case, I suspect ...

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can they automatically go union then? I thought there’s a new law about that.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

is this what you're referring to?

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board on Friday resurrected key elements of a policy it eliminated more than 50 years ago requiring businesses that commit labor law violations to bargain with unions without holding formal elections.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What they should really do is pay musicians more.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Pay the execs more, you say? Sure thing!