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Google workers deliver petition demanding layoff protections amid AI hiring push
The petition, backed by more than 4,500 signatures, asks for guaranteed severance and buyout options, and ties job security concerns to recent workforce reductions tied to Google’s AI spending.
Workers at Google, part of Alphabet, delivered a petition to CEO Sundar Pichai demanding stronger layoff protections as the company invests heavily in AI. The effort, led by the Alphabet Workers Union, included more than 4,500 signatures, according to the Guardian Business.
Union president Parul Koul said outside Google’s California headquarters that the petition reflects concerns about job cuts despite what she described as Google’s strong financial position, pointing to the company’s $4 trillion valuation and arguing that layoffs have prioritized profit over employees.
The petition calls for guaranteed severance, buyouts before any mandatory layoffs across product areas, and the option to receive severance as extended paid leave. It also asks Google to end performance ratings the union says are based on hitting quotas rather than merit.
The outlet reports that after delivering the petition, workers said they were mostly met with closed doors and no response, leaving the document with a staff member in Pichai’s office, who committed to delivering it to the CEO. The petition comes as other major tech firms continue to cut headcount and, in some cases, cite AI as part of the rationale.