Google DeepMind union talks in London hit an early snag

In short: Early negotiations about a possible union for Google DeepMind staff in London left union representatives frustrated, and Google says talks are continuing.

What happened

Google DeepMind employees in London have been discussing whether the company should recognize two unions, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite, as joint representatives. In May, employees asked Google to formally recognize the unions. Google denied that request, but agreed to take part in negotiations overseen by a third-party arbitrator (a neutral referee).

An initial meeting took place on Wednesday with union officers, employees supporting the union effort, an arbitrator, and DeepMind human resources staff. Union representatives said they were disappointed that senior DeepMind leaders were not there. A CWU officer, John Chadfield, called that a sign the company was not engaging seriously, and said the talks had stalled.

Google DeepMind denied that negotiations have stalled. A spokesperson, Al Verney, said the first step is to define which employees the unions want to represent, and said the appropriate company representatives attended.

During the meeting, a DeepMind employee read a prepared letter on behalf of colleagues who support unionizing, according to WIRED. The letter said workers felt their concerns were being handled only by HR, rather than through meaningful discussion with leadership. The letter also alleged the company limited internal discussion by changing internal chat spaces and restricting responses to company-wide messages. Google said it will keep an open dialogue and pointed to other internal channels for employee feedback.

Why it matters

Union recognition can change how workplace issues are handled, like pay, policies, and how employees raise concerns. At DeepMind, some workers say their worries include how the company’s AI might be used, including in military or surveillance settings.

Source: Wired