Members of the Alphabet Workers Union (CWA) hold a rally outside the Google office in response to recent layoffs, in New York on February 2, 2023. - Google's parent company Alphabet announced in January it will cut about 12,000 jobs globally, citing a changing economic reality.
In Japan, a large number of Google workers have grouped together under the umbrella of the Tokyo Managers' Union.
Some of the workers are in Japan legally on work visas, so it is possible that they were motivated to organize by a fear of being laid off suddenly.
Assistant Professor Ken Yamazaki of Meiji University claims that this is the first labor union at Google Japan. He has also provided a copy of the group's comments at a press conference.
Key Driver Behind the Union
Their worries were sparked by the tech giant's January revelation that it would be eliminating 12,000 positions worldwide or 6% of its total staff.
According to Engadget's report, employers said that their US-based colleagues were laid off by means of an email sent at midnight. In contrast, those working at the Japanese office had been kept on constant alert for weeks in anticipation of their own imminent dismissal.
In light of that statement and reports regarding the company's treatment of workers in other nations, the employees said they had decided to form a labor union.
If an employer wants to fire an employee in Japan, they will need to show they have a good cause. Yet, some businesses may terminate workers for no apparent reason, citing issues with the individual as the cause.
In an effort to safeguard itself against unfair dismissal, the group has taken the step of creating a union.
One of the areas hit hardest by the layoffs in the US was the company's Area 120 in-house incubator, which develops new and potentially successful applications and businesses. With the layoffs, the department may only work on three projects at once, down from the previous maximum of 20.
Related Story: Google Workers Stage Protests Against 12K Layoffs, Low Contractor Pay, and Poor Subcontractor Conditions
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at a panel at the CEO Summit of the Americas hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on June 09, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. The CEO Summit entered its second day of events with a formal signing for the "International Coalition to Connect Marine Protected Areas" and a speech from U.S. President Joe Biden.
Rationale for Layoffs
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed deep regret and "full responsibility" for the actions that brought the firm to such a position when the news about layoffs was disclosed. He acknowledged Google's massive recruiting efforts over the last several years but said the company hired for a different economic reality than the one they are confronting right now.
A year-over-year increase in sales of 1% was reported for the company's fiscal fourth quarter of 2022, while a decrease in net income of 34% was recorded.
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