Labour group accuses Google of illegally firing workers to stifle unionism

The CommunicationsWorkersof America union filed a federallabourcharge against Alphabet Inc'sGoogleon Thursday, accusing the company of unlawfullyfiringfour employees to deterworkersfrom engaging in union activities.

The complaint, seen by Reuters, will trigger a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) investigation into whetherGoogleviolated the four individuals' right to collectively raise concerns about working conditions.

Googlefired the four named employees "to discourage and chill employees from engaging in protected concerted and union activities," the filing states. "Its actions are the antithesis of the freedoms and transparency it publicly touts."

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Googledid not respond to a request for comment on the filing, though it has said the fourworkerswere let go for violating the company's data-security policies.

Googlealso last month acknowledged hiring a consultancy known for defeatingunionism.

The CWA union, which represents 700,000 North Americans working at AT&T Inc, Walt Disney Coand companies in several other industries, has been trying to organiseworkersatGoogle, said Laurie Burgess, an attorney at Messing Adam & Jasmine who worked on the NLRB filing.

The union stepped forward to make the charge against the company "because it has been harmed byGoogle's actions," she said.

If at the end of its investigation the NLRB findsGooglehas a case to answer, the union could seek to reach a settlement or, ultimately appeal to a court.

CWA spokeswoman Beth Allen said its organising director has been in touch withGoogleemployees for some time to offer assistance.

"It's a good partnership we have and through their own organising if they decide they want to form a union, we’re here to help them," she said. "We really believe inworkersleading their own struggles."

The fourworkers, who were fired November 25, "visibly led and participated in" organising atGoogle, according to the filing.

"I was fired for organising my coworkersand advocating for better working conditions for everyone who works atGoogle(including employees, temps, vendors, and contractors)," one of theworkers, Paul Duke, said in a tweet on Wednesday.

He and others in social media posts since their exit have alleged thatGoogle, which has faced a swell of worker activism over the past two years, wanted to demonstrate consequences for speaking out.

Duke and sacked co-workersLaurence Berland and Sophie Waldman publicly signed a petition in August urgingGoogleto reject business from three USimmigration agencies that the petition said had mistreated migrants. The fourth fired worker, Rebecca Rivers, had protestedGooglepolicies that appeared to undermine its support for people who identify as gay, lesbian or transgender.

When the NLRB finds violations, it typically tries to help accusers and companies reach a settlement.

Googlein September announced such a settlement after an employee accused the company offiringhim for his conservative political views.Googlesaid it agreed to remind employees that its "policies do not prevent employees from discussing workplace issues."

The company has long prided itself on listening to employee feedback and even adjusting course on the spot based on ideas at all-staff meetings. But it now serves more than 3 billion consumers and business customers across search, navigation and health technology, and it faces fierce competition in advertising and increased regulatory scrutiny.

The company in the last year has reeled in elements of its unorthodox culture, such as by cutting back on companywide meetings next year, as it deals with its much broader influence.

Workersand investors have been able to exercise limited oversight overGoogle's practices because co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin control Alphabet's shareholder voting power.

The co-founders stepped down Tuesday from their executive roles but retain their votes and board seats.