Google employees demonstrated in Zurich on Wednesday against the layoffs decided by the company around the world. Between 400 and 500 people protested against this “unnecessary” measure, according to the syndicom union.
Google’s parent company announced in January the loss of 12,000 jobs worldwide. This decision has concrete consequences for the employees of the Zurich site. “The employees affected have been informed,” Google told Keystone-ATS, confirming information from German-speaking radio station SRF.
>> Read: Google announces the loss of around 12,000 jobs worldwide
Google did not specify how many layoffs had been made in Switzerland. Their number is “lower than the global average”, limited itself to declaring the internet giant. For its part, Syndicom speaks of 5% of the workforce, which would correspond to 250 jobs out of a total of 5,000.
A social plan must be negotiated
Despite negotiations with Google, employees and the union failed to reduce the damage, as explained in 12:30 Dominique Fitze of Syndicom. “We are disappointed that Google did not discuss the proposals made by the staff to avoid this mass layoff. Some 2,500 Zurich employees had, for example, proposed to reduce their pension or at least to think about it to limit the layoffs Now, we need to negotiate a good social plan to enable the people concerned to quickly find a job.”
With Wednesday’s walkout, Google employees wanted to show their solidarity with those made redundant in Switzerland and around the world, the union said in a statement.
Google’s staff representation, advised by syndicom, is currently in discussions with Google to negotiate an extended social plan. This must in particular contain measures aimed at reducing the number of people made redundant.
ats/Joëlle Cachin/lan
