Google Kings Cross HQ protest over sackings and union busting

Google workers will stage a demonstration outside the company’s King Cross headquarters on Tuesday over the ‘appalling treatment and union busting’ of staff facing swingeing redundancies.

When: 1200 hrs to 1300 hrs, Tuesday, 4 April 2023
Where: Google, King’s Boulevard, London, N1C 4BU

In January, Google announced that it would be making around 10,000 workers redundant across its global operations. In the UK, the jobs of hundreds of employees are at risk.

Since then, Google’s UK management has ignored most of the concerns put to them by elected Unite workplace representatives and closed the collective consultation process on the redundancy plans. Unite is the biggest union at Google, with over a thousand new members joining in the last few months alone.

The company is now holding one-to-one consultations with workers and refusing to allow union representatives to be present during the meetings. Google has gone so far as to refuse to hear grievances on the redundancy process put forward by individuals. This is because formally acknowledging such grievances would give individuals the right to have a union representative attend their consultation.

Google have also made individuals with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions, get doctors notes just to have a colleague attend their meetings and even then, union representation is still prohibited.

The company is also attempting to limit legal representation for workers, who have to sign a settlement agreement to receive a redundancy package. Staff have been told they can only use solicitors from a list approved by the company if they want to receive a payment for legal costs. This has resulted in concerns about the independence of the legal services available to the workers.

Unite regional officer Matt Whaley said: “Google’s treatment of staff and attempts at union-busting during the redundancy consultation process are appalling and potentially unlawful.

“Our members are clear: Google needs to listen to its own advice of not being evil. They and Unite will not back down until Google allows workers full union representation, engages properly with the consultation process and treats its staff with the respect and dignity they deserve.”