YouTube Music contract employees who had formed a labor union and were aiming to negotiate with Google were informed of the termination of their contract while testifying at the city council.



While unionized YouTube Music contract employees were testifying before the

Austin , Texas, city council in an effort to bring Google to the collective bargaining table, the entire 43-person team was collectively terminated. I was notified that something happened. A video has also been circulating showing a man from the union giving a speech at a city council meeting when he was informed that his contract was being terminated.



YouTube lays off 43 unionized Google contractors as they appealed to city council - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/03/01/youtube-union-contractor-layoffs/

Cognizant layoffs at Google's YouTube Music in Austin - Austin Business Journal
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2024/03/01/cognizant-austin-google-layoff-youtube-music.html

YouTube Music employee discusses sudden layoffs | kvue.com
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/youtube-music-union-contractors-layoffs-austin-texas/269-3b82e06e-6845-421f-b1d3-61c6f8b35115

A team of employees dispatched to YouTube Music from Cognizant Technology Solutions (Cognizant), an outsourcing company in the IT industry, formed a labor union under the Alphabet Workers Union in April 2023, seeking improved treatment. YouTube Music's contract employees claim that they receive only minimal benefits with no injury and sickness benefits, and some work multiple jobs for as little as $19 an hour (about 2,800 yen).

The labor union has requested negotiations with Google, but Google has refused, saying that Cognizant is responsible for hiring contract employees and that there is no need for them to negotiate with contract employees. However, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an independent U.S. administrative agency, ruled that Cognizant and Google are 'joint employers' of contract employees, and in January 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Cognizant and Google are 'joint employers' of contract employees, and in January 2024, it was illegal to negotiate with the union. I found that it was refused.

As Google appeals the NLRB ruling in federal court, the contract workers' union testified before the Austin City Council on February 29, 2024, asking for help urging Google to negotiate with the union. . However, while a male union member was giving a speech at the city council meeting, he received news that the contracts of 43 YouTube Music contract employees dispatched by Cognizant had expired all at once. The City Council meeting is being streamed online, and a video of the moment the news broke during the speech is also circulating.

YouTube Music employee discusses layoffs - YouTube


A man speaks at the podium of a city council meeting and appeals for support for the labor union of contract employees of YouTube Music.



However, just as the man said, ``Please give us the motivation to continue this fight,'' a woman who appeared to be a union member approached him and told him, ``They just laid us all off.''



The man has a shocked expression.



Since the series of events was distributed online, some people on social media are saying that ``Google may have fired them in retaliation.'' In response, a Google spokesperson said, ``These workers are not Google employees. Cognizant is responsible for the terms of employment of these workers, including staffing.'' claims that it has nothing to do with it.

Cognizant also insists that the contract will be terminated as usual. 'No one was 'fired' that day; their contracts simply expired, and the Austin-based personnel remain Cognizant employees. For us as a professional services company, the start and end of a project typically This contract has been completed within the scheduled period.” The employees will be given a seven-week paid period until they find a new placement, and Cognizant explained that it will continue to support the employees.

Regarding the formation of a labor union by YouTube Music contract employees, a Google spokesperson said, ``We have no objection to Cognizant employees forming a labor union. We simply believe that we should participate in this,' Google clarified its position. A Cognizant spokesperson said: 'While we respect our employees' right to form a union, our philosophy is to engage in direct and open dialogue and collaboration.' Masu.

'I was speechless and shocked. I didn't know what to do,' said Jack Benedict, a former YouTube Music data analyst who was in charge of addressing the city council. 'There was absolutely no warning. It wasn't. We all assumed the contract would be renewed.'



In addition, the Ausdin City Council passed a resolution to support YouTube Music's contract employees with a majority vote, but this resolution is only a symbolic one since YouTube Music's contract with Mr. Benedict and others has already ended. ... apparently ...

Benedict argued that both Google and Cognizant have the same responsibility to negotiate with labor unions, and the same goes for terms and conditions of employment. 'That video clip of the city council meeting is all over the place and it's attracting a lot of people. I'm not going to sit back and watch,' he said. 'The fight has just begun,' he said, indicating that he will continue to fight. Ta.



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