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Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

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Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#11

Post by moate »

trothamel wrote: post #10

I'm by no means familiar with labor law, but are companies (in Switzerland or the US) required to actively support unionization? It seems like it would be one thing to actively oppose unionization, and another thing to require the organizers to provide their own meeting rooms, space, etc. Looking at the article, it seems like this is the latter.

US- No, they're not required (or expected) to support unionization. There are specifics about how they're allowed to oppose it (saying "unions will hurt the company" is fine, saying "if you organize we will fire you" is not).

That said, it's still newsworthy. Forming a union is usually a battle of public opinion. As an organizer, it's likely in your best interest to say "hey, look your company only wants to explain unionization if they can help sculpt the message" as exactly the sort of behavior that would drive you towards having a union.

TL;dr- Unionization is frequently about optics, and these aren't great optics for Google.

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#12

Post by NewsAware »

trothamel wrote: post #10

I'm by no means familiar with labor law, but are companies (in Switzerland or the US) required to actively support unionization? It seems like it would be one thing to actively oppose unionization, and another thing to require the organizers to provide their own meeting rooms, space, etc. Looking at the article, it seems like this is the latter.

Can only answer for Germany, but yes, here the employer is required to provide for the initial meeting where the first employee committee (Betriebsrat) is elected. This includes rooms, paper etc but in particular informing all employees about the initiative as well as freeing people up during their paid work time so they can attend.

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#13

Post by [deleted] »

twobat wrote: post #5
NotSammyHagar wrote: post #3

Better workplace protection for whistleblowers and protection from sexism and company retaliation seems like a good thing for google. There have been a stream of these court cases. I think this is actually something that would also benefit google - they seem to constantly struggle with this. I think google is no worse than other tech companies and based on my time there I think the company is well intentioned. They a…

It always seemed "funny" how come executives with more wealth than some cities get to become sexual aggressors.

[deleted]

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#14

Post by dahdum »

> In the email, Google said it was canceling the meeting because the company prefers to only host events on the topic organized in partnership with Google’s site leadership team.

So this was a meeting organized solely by employees, using company property, on the company campus, on a workday, with the only speakers allowed being the union reps?

I’m not surprised management would try to cancel that, it sounds like a pro-union propaganda party at Google’s expense.

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#15

Post by esoterica »

minikites wrote: post #9
NotSammyHagar wrote: post #3

Better workplace protection for whistleblowers and protection from sexism and company retaliation seems like a good thing for google. There have been a stream of these court cases. I think this is actually something that would also benefit google - they seem to constantly struggle with this. I think google is no worse than other tech companies and based on my time there I think the company is well intentioned. They a…

>Of course, union members with workplace protections don't usually get stock grants, free food, and a free gym. The reason Google provides those things is because someone crunched the numbers and determined that it was a cheaper way to get employees to work free overtime compared to higher salaries.

How many unionized companies pay higher salaries than Google?

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#16

Post by onlyrealcuzzo »

I'm a SWE at Google, and as much as I love unions, I'm not sure it makes sense for the software industry.

Further, the larger tech companies already have a concept of "levels" to ensure some sense of pay equality, we already get better benefits than you can get anywhere else in the states.

Realistically, what more will unions accomplish at a place like Google?

I'd love 6 weeks of paid vacation as much as anyone. I don't see us getting that. I'd love to make twice as much money. I don't see that happening. I'd love for promotions and hiring to be more fair / better, but I don't see how this accomplishes that (nor do I know anyway to improve it).

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#17

Post by toomuchtodo »

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #16

I'm a SWE at Google, and as much as I love unions, I'm not sure it makes sense for the software industry. Further, the larger tech companies already have a concept of "levels" to ensure some sense of pay equality, we already get better benefits than you can get anywhere else in the states. Realistically, what more will unions accomplish at a place like Google? I'd love 6 weeks of paid vacation as much as anyone. I do…

I'd ask only that you not impede those who do believe in more workplace protections and benefits while they get that work done (ideally locked in with labor law, along with strong unions). I'm sure a two day weekend and 40 hour work week was once thought of as impossible as well.

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#18

Post by philipov »

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #16

I'm a SWE at Google, and as much as I love unions, I'm not sure it makes sense for the software industry. Further, the larger tech companies already have a concept of "levels" to ensure some sense of pay equality, we already get better benefits than you can get anywhere else in the states. Realistically, what more will unions accomplish at a place like Google? I'd love 6 weeks of paid vacation as much as anyone. I do…

> I'm not sure it makes sense for the software industry.

Why not? Such a vague claim needs substantiation.

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#19

Post by SomeOldThrow »

dahdum wrote: post #14

> In the email, Google said it was canceling the meeting because the company prefers to only host events on the topic organized in partnership with Google’s site leadership team. So this was a meeting organized solely by employees, using company property, on the company campus, on a workday, with the only speakers allowed being the union reps? I’m not surprised management would try to cancel that, it sounds like a pr…

> pro-union propaganda party

Typically you just say "organizing".

Re: Google attempted to shut down a unionization meeting in Zurich

#20

Post by SomeOldThrow »

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #16

I'm a SWE at Google, and as much as I love unions, I'm not sure it makes sense for the software industry. Further, the larger tech companies already have a concept of "levels" to ensure some sense of pay equality, we already get better benefits than you can get anywhere else in the states. Realistically, what more will unions accomplish at a place like Google? I'd love 6 weeks of paid vacation as much as anyone. I do…

> we already get better benefits than you can get anywhere else in the states.

Wait until you hear how well the rich assholes that profit off your work live.

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