Google fires 28 workers for protesting $1.2 billion Israel contract

UNIX84@beehaw.org to Technology@beehaw.org – 234 points –
Google fires 28 workers for protesting $1.2 billion Israel contract
nbcnews.com

"Google issued a stern warning to its employees, with the company’s vice president of global security, Chris Rackow, saying, “If you’re one of the few who are tempted to think we’re going to overlook conduct that violates our policies, think again,” according to an internal memo obtained by CNBC."

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Isn't it illegal to fire protesting workers? At least here in Germany its illegal as far as I know. But it must be a protest event (which it seems to be).

My understanding is that in America, you're only allowed to protest in ways that don't interfere with capital interests.

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Please note that Germany has (compared to other EU members) quite strict and company-friendly protesting laws.

Such protests may be even considered as political protest (Politischer Streik) which makes them not illegal per se but could be illegal. https://www.bpb.de/themen/medien-journalismus/netzdebatte/219308/ein-bisschen-verboten-politischer-streik/

Yes, I don‘t think such protests would fall under the general protesting laws as they have nothing to do with your working conditions.

Oh no, here in America we have FREEDOM. the freedom to work! We have something called "right to work" which means we have the RIGHTS to work and quit a job with no contracts. We also gave up every single worker protection for these supposed rights, but since it was named right to work we are meant to believe it's good for us

You're confusing At-Will employment with Right-to-Work.

Right to work laws make it illegal to require union membership for employment at a place with a union.

At-Will Employment makes it legal for the employee or employer to terminate employment at-will.

They're both bad, you just got them mixed up. :)

I think you're talking about "at-will" employment, which allows the employer or employee to terminate employment for no reason at any time. Only Montana doesn't have that (unfortunately for the rest of us), and employers must show good cause for termination after a set probationary period. "Right-to-work" means that you can't be required to join a union or pay fair share fees as a requirement of employment. 26 states have this on the books.

I live in a state with both laws, and it sucks as much as you'd imagine... (mainly because it's fairly indicative of other issues throughout the state).

I think yinz missed the sarcasm in the comment you're replying to.

That is not at all what right to work means.

I get the frustration, but if you're going to criticize a thing, it's a lot more effective if you actually know what the thing is.

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