Google's London Workers Walk Out Over Job Cuts

Hundreds of Google employees staged a walkout at the company’s London offices on Tuesday following a dispute over layoffs, Reuters reported. Google employs 5,000 in the United Kingdom.

Photo Insert: Google employs 5,000 in the United Kingdom.

In January, Google’s parent company Alphabet announced it was laying off 12,000 employees worldwide, equivalent to 6% of its global workforce.

The move came amid a wave of job cuts across corporate America, particularly in the tech sector, which has so far seen companies shed more than 290,000 workers since the start of the year, according to tracking site Layoffs.fyi, CNN also reported.

Trade union Unite, which counts hundreds of Google’s UK employees among its members, said the company had ignored concerns put forward by employees. “Our members are clear: Google needs to listen to its own advice of not being evil,” said Unite regional officer Matt Whaley.

“They and Unite will not back down until Google allows workers full union representation, engages properly with the consultation process, and treats its staff with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

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