5 ms·

The Alphabet Workers Union is fairly toothless. It has no legal power, is not officially recognized by Google, and has no contract or formal bargaining power.

dragonwriter 4y ago
That's literally how all unions that become anything else start out, and advocacy like this around specific issues is how they grow into something more. Legally-recognized unions with employer contracts don't spring full formed from the head of Samuel Gompers, they are the result of organizing efforts that spend a time as unrecognized unions.
- millimeterman 4y ago
  Fair enough, though this union also has unconventional goals which I imagine would slow both employee adoption and Google's willingness to negotiate with them. > We will ensure Alphabet acts ethically and in the best interests of society and the environment. We are responsible for the technology that we bring into the world, and recognize that its implications reach far beyond Alphabet. We will work with those affected by our technology to ensure that it serves the public good. To be honest, this strikes me as an incredibly pretentious opinion from people who have drank too much of the Google Kool-Aid.
singron 4y ago
The dues are also 1% of total compensation, which includes bonuses and RSUs at Google. For the bulk of L3/L4 Googlers, this is $1800-$2600 per year. This is typical for union dues on a percentage income basis, but very high on an absolute basis where the average is apparently $400 per year. They constructed it to have 4-6x the funding per member of the average union. Then their initiatives are focused on contractors, which don't really incentize employees to join, and larger public social justice where the union might lack sufficient teeth to effect change. There isn't really enough self-interest to join, so your average Googler is probably better off taking the company match on a philanthropic contribution.

dragonwriter 4y ago

That's literally how all unions that become anything else start out, and advocacy like this around specific issues is how they grow into something more. Legally-recognized unions with employer contracts don't spring full formed from the head of Samuel Gompers, they are the result of organizing efforts that spend a time as unrecognized unions.

millimeterman 4y ago
Fair enough, though this union also has unconventional goals which I imagine would slow both employee adoption and Google's willingness to negotiate with them. > We will ensure Alphabet acts ethically and in the best interests of society and the environment. We are responsible for the technology that we bring into the world, and recognize that its implications reach far beyond Alphabet. We will work with those affected by our technology to ensure that it serves the public good. To be honest, this strikes me as an incredibly pretentious opinion from people who have drank too much of the Google Kool-Aid.

singron 4y ago

The dues are also 1% of total compensation, which includes bonuses and RSUs at Google. For the bulk of L3/L4 Googlers, this is $1800-$2600 per year. This is typical for union dues on a percentage income basis, but very high on an absolute basis where the average is apparently $400 per year. They constructed it to have 4-6x the funding per member of the average union. Then their initiatives are focused on contractors, which don't really incentize employees to join, and larger public social justice where the union might lack sufficient teeth to effect change. There isn't really enough self-interest to join, so your average Googler is probably better off taking the company match on a philanthropic contribution.