(Oakland, CA)—The Alphabet Workers Union-CWA announced today that the union has entered into an agreement with Google protecting the rights of all Google workers to speak freely about antitrust litigation brought by the Department of Justice against the company. The agreement resolves an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge the union filed last August with the National Labor Relations Board. That charge alleges that a company-wide email sent by President of Global Affairs Kent Walker directing Google employees to “refrain from commenting on this case, both internally and externally” violated workers’ rights under U.S. labor law. We are pleased that our concerns with this gag order have been recognized and addressed.‍

The settlement of the union’s ULP charge has come at a crucial moment, as Google and the Department of Justice are now in the “remedy” phase of the antitrust litigation over Google Search and will return to the courtroom in late April. It’s critical that workers' voices are considered in the determination of a court-ordered remedy with many potential impacts on their lives and jobs.‍

“It’s encouraging that Google has reversed its course on restricting our federally protected right to free expression,” said Parul Koul, Software Engineer and elected President of the Alphabet Workers Union - Communications Workers of America Local 9009, “All workers in the United States have the right to discuss their working conditions, and for us this acknowledgement comes at an important time as the government is due to impose antitrust remedies that could affect our work dramatically.”‍

Given the potential ramifications of the remedies currently on the table—including the divestiture of Chrome or Android, the end of distribution contracts, and the syndication of search data—it is essential that workers are able to discuss these impacts, participate in the deliberations, and, if they choose, bargain collectively around the implementation of any eventual remedy.‍

Google has laid off thousands of workers over the past two years, and unless workers make their voices heard, the impacts of whatever remedy the court ultimately orders are likely to be felt most directly by the workers who make Google Search run—not by the executives who created the antitrust problems in the first place.‍

The agreement is also a significant step in ensuring that there is a culture of compliance at Google. Google has a history of retaliation against workers who have engaged in legally protected collective action and in political speech the company does not favor. Our members have met with the Department of Justice to advocate that robust worker protections be includedin any remedy package proposed by the government.

The Department of Justice’s final proposal includes an anti-retaliation provision protecting individuals and associations at Google from retaliation if they become aware of conduct that potentially violates the court order and take steps to make their concerns known. Google’s proposal, on the other hand, is silent on what, if any, protections workers can expect if they individually or collectively come forward. A culture of compliance can only be built and maintained when workers are not afraid to speak up.

Our union will continue to advocate for the job security of workers in any remedy, and we hope to engage further with both Google and the Department of Justice regarding our concerns.