Google Must Bargain With YouTube Worker Union

Alphabet Inc’s Google violated U.S. labor law by refusing to bargain with a union representing contract workers for YouTube Music, a federal agency has ruled.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rejected claims by Google, which owns YouTube, that it should not be considered the employer of workers provided by staffing firm Cognizant Technology Solutions.

The group of YouTube Music content operation workers voted 41-0 last April to join the Alphabet Workers Union, which was formed three years ago to organize the company’s employees.

The labor board in July upheld the election results, rejecting Google’s claim that it did not have enough control over the workers to be considered a so-called “joint employer” that must bargain with their union.

Employers cannot appeal decisions in election cases, so Google refused to bargain in order to get the case back before the NLRB.

The NLRB said the company had not raised any new issues warranting review.

Google in a statement said it would ask a federal appeals court to review the ruling.

Katie-Marie Marschner, a YouTube Music worker and member of the union, said in a statement that Google and Cognizant have made various changes to working conditions without bargaining, including requiring workers to return to the office and removing sick pay.

Google has faced an uptick in labor organizing in the United States and abroad in recent years, including a series of worker protests over the company’s business and employment policies.

In November, a group of about 120 employees of Google contractor Accenture who work on artificial intelligence applications voted to unionize. Google claims it is not the workers’ joint employer and is challenging the results of that election.