What Google's union wants

The union's Googlers for Job Security campaign is seeking four things:

The Alphabet Workers Union is calling on Google to guarantee severance at least equal to the January 2023 layoff terms (16 weeks' base pay plus additional weeks per year of service and related benefits), arguing that more recent packages have been less generous. Because severance arrangements are not fully disclosed for every layoff round and jurisdiction, this claim reflects worker perceptions and union analysis rather than a publicly verifiable global metric.
Voluntary buyouts would have to be offered before any involuntary layoffs, at terms at least matching the guaranteed package.
Laid-off workers would be allowed to take severance as extended paid garden leave (when departing employee stays on full pay but is not allowed to work during their notice period) rather than a lump sum. "When workers on visas are hit by surprise layoffs, they often have only a few months to find a new job," as stated by the union.
Workers object to what they describe as a quota‑based rating system, where only a fixed percentage of employees can receive each GRAD rating level. They argue this "forced distribution" approach leads managers to adjust ratings to fit a curve instead of reflecting actual performance.

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