Google Zurich: New walkout against unnecessary layoffs
Employees protest against mass layoffs and for a good social plan
Rallying around the slogan "we walk out for those who can't walk back in", 400 - 500 Google employees in Zurich left their workplace at 11 am in protest. Yesterday, the company announced the layoffs. Google did not take into account the broadly supported proposals of the staff to avoid the dismissals. The walkout has been organized by syndicom members at Google Zurich.
The employee representation committee at Google Zurich - supported by syndicom - worked out numerous proposals in the consultation process with which the layoffs could have been avoided. The company did not accept any of them. For example, 2’500 employees of Google in Zurich indicated they would be willing to voluntarily reduce their working hours.
Google employees involved in the walkout show solidarity with the laid-off workers in Switzerland and worldwide. They are bothered by the intransparent procedure and the fact that Alphabet Inc., which owns Google, is laying off five percent of the company despite billions in profits. The company has not yet convincingly explained the economic necessity.
The employee representation committee, together with the syndicom union, are now in talks with Google to negotiate an extended social plan. The social plan must contain specific measures to further reduce the number of employees affected and to find new employment as quickly as possible.
