Hundreds of employees at Google and other Alphabet companies today launched the Alphabet Workers Union with support from the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
It will be the first union open to all employees and contractors at any Alphabet company, with dues-paying members, an elected board of directors, and paid organizing staff.
The new union is part of CWA’s CODE-CWA (Coalition to Organize Digital Employees) project, and the workers will be members of CWA Local 1400.
It follows union drives by other Google workers—like HCL contract workers in Pittsburgh and cafeteria workers now with UNITE HERE! in the Bay Area—as well as unions formed by workers at other tech companies like Kickstarter and Glitch.
“This union builds upon years of courageous organizing by Google workers,” said Nicki Anselmo, Program Manager.
“From fighting the ‘real names’ policy, to opposing Project Maven, to protesting the egregious, multi-million dollar payouts that have been given to executives who’ve committed sexual harassment, we’ve seen first-hand that Alphabet responds when we act collectively. Our new union provides a sustainable structure to ensure that our shared values as Alphabet employees are respected even after the headlines fade,” Anselmo added.
The Alphabet Workers Union, however, will be the first open to all employees of Alphabet, regardless of their role or classification.