(h/t @DonutRush)
Last year, Youtube Music workers unanimously voted to unionize; beat Google's effort to avoid being recognized as a joint employer, and went on strike to protest Google's refusal to bargain with them. Yesterday, it appears they were laid off as their home city—Austin—was set to urge the company to do so.
The moment was actually caught on camera as several Youtube Music workers spoke in favor of the resolution during the Austin City Council's debate of it.
At least one worker alleges that "as [Youtube Music employees] were leaving the premises- members of HR physically assaulted our coworkers to remove them from the premises as they packed their personal items, leaving bruises and scratch marks."
What will happen next is not clear. Alphabet Workers Union had this to say on the matter:
Today Google informed workers on the YouTube Music team that they would be laid off, hours before a scheduled vote by the Austin City Council on a resolution calling on Google to bargain with these same workers in good faith.
These workers unanimously won their union election in April 2023. In response Google has publicly stated it would not engage in bargaining with them. The NLRB has ruled that Google’s continued refusal to bargain with these workers is unlawful.
The YouTube Music team is based out of Austin. Even as workers contribute to the success of the billion dollar platform, they are paid as little as $19 dollars an hour and receive minimal benefits. Many workers are forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.