Google terminated 28 employees who protested against the company’s cloud-computing deal with Israel, known as Project Nimbus. These employees held sit-in protests at two Google offices, with some being arrested when they refused to leave the office of Google’s Cloud CEO, Thomas Kurian, for over eight hours.
The decision to fire the protestors came after these arrests. In an internal memo obtained by The Verge, Google stated that such behavior has no place at the company and will not be tolerated.
Google Fires 28 Employees
According to a report from The Verge, Google recently took action against 28 employees who protested against Project Nimbus. The company’s head of global security, Chris Rackow, issued a memo warning against such actions, stating they wouldn’t be tolerated.
The memo detailed how certain employees staged sit-in protests at Google’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale, taking over spaces, vandalizing property, and disrupting the work of others. Rackow described this behavior as “unacceptable and extremely disruptive,” causing coworkers to feel threatened.
As a result, these employees were investigated, had their access to systems revoked, and those who refused to leave were arrested and removed from the premises by law enforcement.
Announcing the termination of 28 employees engaged in protests, Rackow’s memo stated that following an investigation, the company had let go of those found involved. The memo emphasized a zero-tolerance stance towards such behavior, highlighting violations of various company policies like the Code of Conduct, Harassment Policy, and others.
Rackow also acknowledged the majority of employees’ adherence to company policies, cautioning against misconduct and reiterating the company’s commitment to enforcing policies rigorously, including termination if necessary.
The protests were organized by the No Tech for Apartheid group, a faction within Google expressing discontent with the company’s business choices.
In response to the terminations, the No Tech for Apartheid group asserted that Google hadn’t addressed their concerns for three years, defending employees’ right to peaceful protest regarding labor conditions. They deemed the terminations retaliatory.
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Why Google Employees Protesting?
Google 28 Employees staged a protest against Project Nimbus, a massive AI deal inked back in 2021. According to an abc7 news report, employees claimed that Project Nimbus was aiding AI’s role in the Gaza conflict, labeling it as the beginning of AI-driven genocide.
In an interview with abc7news, protester Emaan Haseem shared her concerns about losing her job. She emphasized the importance of speaking out against Project Nimbus and any backing of the Israeli government. Haseem revealed that some colleagues had already quit because of their stance against Project Nimbus.
The demonstrators broadcasted their protest on Twitch, making their requests known. They wanted Google to cut off connections with the Israeli military and government, and tackle what they viewed as a serious health and safety issue among its workers.
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Google Fires 28 Employees FAQs
Q.1. Why did Google terminate 28 employees?
Ans. Google terminated 28 employees who protested against the company’s cloud-computing deal with Israel, known as Project Nimbus. The employees staged sit-in protests at Google offices, leading to disruptions and property damage.
Q.2. What triggered the termination of these employees?
Ans. The decision to terminate the employees came after they were arrested during sit-in protests at Google’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale. The protests were against Project Nimbus, and Google deemed the behavior of the protestors as unacceptable and disruptive.
Q.3. What actions did Google take against the protesting employees?
Ans. Google investigated the protesting employees, revoked their access to systems, and terminated those found to be involved in the disruptive behavior. Additionally, law enforcement removed those who refused to leave the premises during the protests.
Q.4. What was the reason given by Google for terminating the employees?
Ans. In an internal memo, Google stated that the behavior exhibited by the protesting employees had no place at the company and violated various company policies, including the Code of Conduct and Harassment Policy. Thus, termination was deemed necessary.
Q.5. Who organized the protests against Project Nimbus?
Ans. The protests were organized by the No Tech for Apartheid group, a faction within Google expressing discontent with the company’s business choices. They opposed Project Nimbus, claiming it supported AI’s role in the Gaza conflict and objected to any association with the Israeli government.
