- A Google software engineer claims he was fired for merely observing a protest against an Israeli defense contract.
- The protest, involving about 20 employees, was part of broader demonstrations against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract.
- The engineer, along with over 50 affected employees, has lodged a complaint alleging unlawful retaliation and seeks reinstatement.
A Google software engineer alleges he was unjustly fired for simply observing a protest against an Israeli defense contract at the company’s New York City office. Despite not actively participating, the engineer found himself terminated the following day, sparking controversy over Google’s handling of employee dissent.
The protest, involving approximately 20 employees wearing matching T-shirts, was part of broader demonstrations against Project Nimbus, a significant $1.2 billion contract between Google and the Israeli government for cloud computing services. Following the protests, Google issued strict warnings against disruptive behavior, leading to the firing of over 20 employees.
The fired engineer, along with over 50 affected employees, has lodged a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging unlawful retaliation. They argue that their involvement or perceived involvement in the protests was a form of protected concerted activity related to their working conditions. Supported by activist organization No Tech For Apartheid, they seek reinstatement, claiming some were merely bystanders unjustly affected by Google’s crackdown on dissent.
