Google DeepMind Unionization Talks Are Off to a Rocky Start
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Negotiations between Google DeepMind and its London-based employees over the possibility of unionization stumbled this week, after initial talks left union representatives feeling they had wasted their time, WIRED has learned.
Key facts
- The push to unionize at DeepMind began in February 2025, when Google’s parent company Alphabet removed a pledge not to use AI for purposes like weapons development and surveillance from its ethics
- In May, DeepMind employees asked Google to recognize the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives
- It’s a time-wasting exercise,” claims John Chadfield, a CWU officer, who attended the meeting
- An initial meeting on Wednesday was attended by union officers, DeepMind employees involved in the unionization push, the third-party arbitrator, and DeepMind HR representatives
Summary
In May, DeepMind employees asked Google to recognize the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives. An initial meeting on Wednesday was attended by union officers, DeepMind employees involved in the unionization push, the third-party arbitrator, and DeepMind HR representatives. “Recognition talks not being attended by senior management at the opening stage is a leading indicator that a company isn’t engaging in good faith. DeepMind denies that negotiations have stalled.