Google Employees Rally for Layoff Protections Amid AI Surge

WHO:

The Guardian - Parul Koul, Google software engineer and Alphabet Workers Union president

The Guardian - Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google

The Guardian - Alphabet Workers Union

The Guardian - Anat Ashkenazi, Alphabet’s chief financial officer

WHAT:

The Guardian - The Alphabet Workers Union delivered a layoff protection petition with over 4,500 signatures to Sundar Pichai.

The Guardian - The petition calls for guaranteed severance, buyouts before mandatory layoffs, and the option to take severance as extended paid leave.

The Guardian - Workers chanted “Google, Google you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side” during a press conference.

The Guardian - Google has cut its workforce in recent months as it increases spending on AI.

WHERE:

The Guardian - The petition was delivered outside Google’s California headquarters.

WHY:

The Guardian - Workers are demanding layoff protections as tech companies reduce their workforces while investing heavily in AI.

The Guardian - Parul Koul stated that layoffs are driven by profit over the welfare of employees, despite Google’s $4 trillion valuation.

HOW:

The Guardian - The petition was left with a staff member in Pichai’s office, who committed to delivering it to the CEO.

The Guardian - The union has organized actions mobilizing hundreds of Googlers to raise visibility on job security concerns.

(UPDATED July 17, 2026 10:33 UTC)

The Alphabet Workers Union, led by president Parul Koul, has delivered a layoff protection petition with over 4,500 signatures to Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the company's California headquarters. The petition demands guaranteed severance, buyouts prior to mandatory layoffs, and the option to take severance as extended paid leave, as workers express concerns over job security amid recent workforce cuts and increased spending on AI. During a press conference, workers chanted, “Google, Google you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side,” highlighting their belief that layoffs prioritize profit over employee welfare, despite Google's substantial $4 trillion valuation.