Google rejects initial union recognition bid and starts talks with Acas

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/googl ... ition-bid/

Google has rejected requests from two UK unions for voluntary recognition but has said it will negotiate with them via Acas, the conciliation service.

Staff at the UK office of DeepMind, Google’s AI division, have called for unionisation over concerns that their work could be used in the development of weapons.

According to John Chadfield, national officer for technology at the Communication Workers Union, “unprecedented numbers of Google DeepMind workers” had expressed these concerns in recent months and joined the CWU.

CWU asked for recognition on a joint basis with fellow trade union Unite to air these concerns and also conduct collective bargaining relating to pay, hours and holidays.

Following the legal process around union recognition, Google was given 10 working days to agree to the request or to meaningfully negotiate.

Now that Google has rejected the request, this opens another 20-day window, which can be extended, for further talks through Acas on recognition.

If these talks fail, unions can seek statutory recognition via the Central Arbitration Committee.

A Google DeepMind spokesperson told Reuters: “We’ve declined the ​unions’ request for voluntary recognition to bargain collectively on pay, hours and holiday, but ​we have offered to meet via Acas, which is a standard next step.

“We continue to value the constructive and direct dialogue that we have with our employees about building a positive and successful workplace.”

A spokesperson for CWU said the union welcomed the offer of further discussions.

“In previous ​months, unprecedented numbers of Google DeepMind employees have expressed concerns over ​the direction ⁠of their work by joining their union.

“We are confident that even more workers will know the need for a democratic workers’ voice at DeepMind.”

A number of changes to the trade union recognition process were introduced via the Employment Rights Act in April, with further reforms to follow in October, including new trade union access rights.