Google DeepMind agreed to enter formal talks with the Communications Workers Union and Unite at Acas after several hundred London headquarters workers voted to unionise. Google declined voluntary recognition for collective bargaining but said talks may lead to a formal ballot in a few months, allowing eligible employees to vote on union representation. The move follows staff concerns about DeepMind AI being used by US and Israeli governments for defence and intelligence. Google also faces a court challenge from a Palestinian heritage researcher alleging wrongful dismissal after protesting work for the Israeli government, which Google disputes. Israeli officials have credited Google cloud computing with combat capabilities during the Gaza conflict, while workers have petitioned against technology use, especially after a 2025 decision to drop a promise on harmful weapons or surveillance. Google stated it respects labour rights and that employees’ union choices will not affect treatment.
"Google DeepMind has agreed to enter formal talks with UK tech workers that could lead to trade union representation amid growing staff concerns about the use of its AI by the US and Israeli governments' defence and intelligence. In a groundbreaking move, the artificial intelligence arm of the multi-trillion dollar Google empire, led by the Nobel prize winner Demis Hassabis, has agreed to meet the Communications Workers Union and Unite at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) after several hundred workers at its London headquarters earlier this month voted to unionise."
"Google DeepMind declined to voluntarily recognise the unions for collective bargaining purposes, but said in a staff email on Wednesday that talks at Acas may lead to a formal ballot in a few months' time, giving all eligible employees the opportunity to vote on whether they want to be represented by the unions. Google is facing a court challenge from a DeepMind AI researcher of Palestinian heritage who alleges he was wrongfully dismissed after protesting against its work for the Israeli government. The researcher is a member of the United Tech and Allied Workers' Union, a branch of the CWU."
"Google said its team's ability to listen to one another and collaborate together has always been central to our culture. We fully respect the labour rights of all our employees, including the right to choose whether or not to be a union member. Your choice will not affect how you are treated at GDM. Israeli officials have credited Google's cloud computing with enabling phenomenal things [to] happen in combat during the Gaza conflict. Hundreds of workers have signed petitions raising concerns about the application of the technology, with concern rising since the company's 2025 decision to drop a promise not to allow its technologies to be used in harmful weapons or surveillance that violated international norms."
#uk-labor-relations #trade-union-representation #ai-ethics-and-military-use #acas-collective-bargaining #deepmind-workplace-disputes
Read at www.theguardian.com
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