CWA member wins settlement with Google

Shannon Wait, a member of CWA Local 1400's Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) has won a settlement with Google and its contractor, Modis E&T.

Check out Wait's video about her suspension and why it is important for Alphabet workers to join AWU.

The settlement was reached after AWU filed an unfair labor practice charge against Alphabet (Google's parent company), Google, Modis, and Adecco with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on behalf of Wait, a data center technician employed by Modis at Google's data center in Moncks Corner, S.C. The charge alleged that the companies prohibited employees, including Wait, from discussing pay with coworkers, suspended Wait for supporting the union, and told her that she was not allowed to join the union because of her status as an employee of a Google contractor.

After CWA Local 1400/AWU filed the unfair labor practice charge, Wait was reinstated within a week. Now, less than two months after the union filed the charge, the NLRB settlement means Google and Modis must post strongly worded notices informing all workers at the Moncks Corner data center that Wait's suspension has been fully rescinded, removed from her personnel file, and will not be used against her in any way. The notices also say that the workers have the right to discuss working conditions and organize with their colleagues and that the companies will not tell employees that they cannot discuss bonuses with other employees or that they are not allowed to be in a union because they work for a Google contractor.

"I'm ecstatic at this settlement, it's a huge win for me and all contract employees at Google and other Alphabet companies," said Wait. "It's far too easy for contractors like Modis to make us believe that we aren't allowed to publicly discuss our working conditions or join unions, and Alphabet and Google turn a blind eye to this gaslighting. Now, because I had the support of my union to call them out on it, they'll be forced to inform us all of our rights."

Check out Wait's video about her suspension and why it is important for Alphabet workers to join AWU.

Links:

CWA member wins settlement with Google (CWA, April 1, 2021)