YouTube Music Contract Workers Laid Off During Austin City Council Meeting Supporting Their Union
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Workers contracted by YouTube Music said they were laid off during an Austin City Council meeting while advocating for a resolution supporting their union.
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The workers won a union election in April 2023, but Google has refused to bargain with them, which the NLRB has ruled is unlawful.
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The workers are paid as little as $19/hour with minimal benefits and many work multiple jobs.
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Google said the workers are contracted through Cognizant, not direct Google employees, and their contracts routinely expire naturally.
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Cognizant claims the workers are still employees, no one was laid off, and the contract ending during the meeting was coincidental.