A group of former Google employees has lodged a formal complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing the tech giant of unlawfully terminating approximately 50 staff members.
The employees allege their dismissals were in retaliation for protesting Google’s involvement in Project Nimbus, a USD 1.2 billion cloud services contract with the Israeli government, which they claim supports the development of military tools.
Filed late Monday, the complaint asserts that Google violated US labour laws, which protect workers' rights to organise and advocate for improved working conditions. The workers involved, who protested at various Google office locations, claim their actions were part of legitimate labour activities. In response to the disruptions caused by the protests, Google confirmed it had terminated 28 employees earlier this month, citing unacceptable workplace disruptions. An additional 20 were later fired for similar reasons.
In a statement on Tuesday, Google defended its decision, stating that the actions taken by the protesting employees made others feel threatened and unsafe at work. The company said that it had thoroughly verified the involvement of each individual dismissed, confirming direct links to the disruptions.
The controversy centres on the nature of Project Nimbus. Google has clarified that the project does not involve work related to weapons or intelligence services. However, critics, including former employee Zelda Montes, arrested during a protest, argue that the firings were intended to suppress employee organizing and dissent within the company. Montes, represented by the group “No Tech For Apartheid”, highlighted that the dismissals were part of a broader attempt by Google to instill fear among its workforce and discourage future dissent.
The workers have asked the NLRB to intervene, seeking reinstatement, back pay and a formal declaration from Google that it will not infringe upon their rights to organise. The NLRB general counsel will review the complaint and may attempt to settle the claims. If unsuccessful, the case could proceed to be heard by an administrative judge and potentially reach the NLRB’s five-member board, appointed by the US president, for a final decision.
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