Google workers stage rallies against job cuts, low wages

Members of the Alphabet Workers Union (CWA) hold a rally outside the Google office in response to recent layoffs, in New York on Feb 2, 2023. Google’s parent company Alphabet announced in January it will cut about 12,000 jobs globally, citing a changing economic reality. — AFP

Google employees staged protests on both US coasts this week to call attention to labour conditions for subcontracted workers and support thousands of co-workers who were recently laid off.

Rallies, one held on Feb 1 at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, and another on Feb 2 near Google’s corporate offices in New York City, came after the company announced the largest reduction in its history – 12,000 positions, or 6% of its global workforce. Other major tech firms including Microsoft Corp, Salesforce Inc and Amazon.com Inc have also recently announced layoffs.