Employees involved in a sit-in protest against Google’s $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government have been terminated for violating company policies
Google has terminated 28 employees following their participation in a sit-in protest at the company’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California. The protest, which was part of a broader action dubbed “No Tech for Genocide Day of Action,” targeted Google’s involvement in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion initiative providing cloud computing services to the Israeli government.
The employees, part of the group No Tech For Apartheid, were dismissed after an internal investigation concluded they had violated multiple company policies. According to Chris Rackow, Google’s Vice President of Global Security, the actions taken by the protesters included occupying office spaces, defacing property, and physically impeding the work of their colleagues. “Their behaviour was unacceptable, extremely disruptive, and made co-workers feel threatened,” Rackow stated in a memo to staff.
During the protest, some participants wore traditional Arab headscarves and occupied the office of a top executive in California. The event extended to Google’s Seattle office, reflecting a coordinated effort across multiple locations. Videos and livestreams of the protest were shared on social media platforms, capturing the attention of both the public and law enforcement.
The protesters demanded that Google withdraw from Project Nimbus, criticizing the potential use of the technology in military actions against Palestinians. The fired employees issued a statement through No Tech For Apartheid spokesperson Jane Chung, condemning the firings as retaliation. “This flagrant act of retaliation is a clear indication that Google values its $1.2 billion contract with the genocidal Israeli government and military more than its own workers,” the statement read.
Local police confirmed the arrest of nine participants during the protests for trespassing. Google had previously placed the involved employees on administrative leave and restricted their access to internal systems while the investigation proceeded.
A Google spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s stance, stating, “Physically impeding other employees’ work and preventing them from accessing our facilities is a clear violation of our policies, and completely unacceptable behavior.” The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining a respectful workplace and enforcing its established policies rigorously.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between employee activism and corporate governance, especially in the tech industry where workers are increasingly vocal about their employers’ business decisions that they believe have ethical implications.
