Google has terminated 28 employees following a protest against the tech giant's contract with the Israeli government for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services. The protest, organized by the group No Tech for Apartheid, involved occupying Google offices in California and New York to demonstrate against the $1.2 billion contract known as Project Nimbus.
Video footage shared on social media depicted police arresting employees within the office of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. In response, Google stated that physically obstructing employees and preventing access to company facilities constituted a "clear violation" of its policies and deemed such behavior "completely unacceptable."
"After multiple requests to leave were refused, law enforcement intervened to ensure office safety," a Google spokesperson stated. "Following individual investigations, 28 employees have been terminated from employment, and further investigations will be conducted with appropriate actions taken as necessary."
Google emphasized that the contract with the Israeli government was unrelated to weapons or intelligence services. However, No Tech for Apartheid accused Google of retaliation, asserting that terminated employees included individuals who had not directly participated in the protests.
In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai issued a warning to protesting employees, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a workplace conducive to productivity and safety. He emphasized that while open discussion is encouraged, disruptive behavior that compromises the well-being of coworkers is not tolerated.
No Tech For Apartheid disputed claims of property damage and disruption of work, asserting that even peaceful protesters did not engage in such behavior. The group condemned Google's actions as prioritizing its contract with the Israeli government over the concerns of its employees.
0 Comments
Feel Free To Write Your Comments