The Alphabet Workers Union delivered a petition with over 4,500 employee signatures to CEO Sundar Pichai, demanding stronger job protections as the company increases its investment in artificial intelligence. The petition calls for the company to offer voluntary buyouts before resorting to mandatory layoffs and to guarantee severance packages for any affected workers.
The union is also asking for an end to performance rating systems that employees claim are based on quotas rather than merit. This action takes place amid ongoing workforce reductions at Google and other tech companies, sparking widespread concern among employees about job security in the age of AI.