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It looks like the employees at Google DeepMind UK reached another stage in their attempt to form a trade union. But after negotiations with management did not produce any results, the employees applied to the government for help. This action will significantly affect the rights of workers from the artificial intelligence industry and is closely watched by the industry, Wired reported.
Facts
- What: Strikes over low salary among the employees of Google DeepMind UK, organised by CWU and Unite the Union.
- Filing: Application for the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) in order to end the conflict between the employer and the trade unions.
- Number of people affected: 1,000 employees in product-related functions.
- Date: February 2025, after Alphabet withdrew from its “no weapons” policy with regards to AI.
- Main demand: Collective bargaining and control over AI development and use.
What Has Happened So Far
The unions urge the CAC to confirm they have sufficient support to start a formal ballot. If it works, the company will have to uphold the outcome. The step comes after a series of meetings between employees, union and company representatives, during which staff felt they had been ignored.
A CWU officer claimed the issue was dealt with by HR and labour relations officials as a “box-ticking” exercise. This Google DeepMind union dispute has now moved from informal talks to a legal process and demonstrates the development of DeepMind workplace organising.
Why Staff Want a Union
Ethics is at the core of the Google staff union campaign. The lab was established with clear “red lines” and a mission to help humanity, according to the employees, and they feel the weapons pledge was undermining this.
Labourers are also displeased with corporate contracts with the US and Israeli armies. If they are recognised unions, they will seek to ask Google to pull out of those contracts. They are no ordinary employees of DeepMind, and their demand goes beyond pay and conditions – it’s a rare example of a union of AI workers that is based on values and a greater Google employee voice.
The Company’s Position
A Google DeepMind spokesperson told me the company treats all employees as free agents to join a union and “has been acting in good faith throughout.” Google has also backed its work with governments, arguing that AI should not be employed for home-based mass surveillance or for autonomous weapons without proper human supervision.
Why This Matters Beyond One Lab
The organisers want to develop a playbook that the teams at other large labs in the UK, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, can use. They say there is no other sector of the economy that has a greater economic impact and limited employee and regulatory oversight.
A passed ballot would benefit workers, bolster the protections for them on the job, and encourage companies to treat collective bargaining more seriously. It could also help propel the unionisation drive in tech, which has historically been uncommon among tech workers.
What Comes Next
First, the CAC will determine if the unions have the support they need, and a vote is likely to be held in the near future, within months. It is suggested that colleagues participate.
In short, regardless of the outcome of this Google DeepMind labour dispute, there is a larger question to ask: Should the creators of AI be at the table as economies and governments increasingly rely on the technology? The answer could influence the recognition of unions for artificial intelligence workers and their power in the workplace over the next few years.
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