Google has been ordered to produce more than 70 documents related to "Project Vivian," a strategy plan reportedly intended to prevent union organizing inside the company, according to Vice.
Some Alphabet workers in early 2021 formed an "informal" union known as the Alphabet Workers Union, which has since secured several victories on behalf of workers at Google, Google contractors and even interns at the company. Google contractors in Pittsburgh also successfully unionized this year. The AWU organizing movement was born in part from the work of earlier activists who led protests against Google's efforts to contract with the U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Google walkout in protest of the company's protection of former executive Andy Rubin, who left the company after allegations of sexual misconduct.
NLRB Judge Paul Bogas ruled Google must hand over strategy documents created in partnership with IRI Consultants — a firm known for assisting organizations in blocking unionization efforts — that discuss how to campaign against unionization. The ruling is part of an ongoing case alleging Google illegally fired workplace activists Kathryn Spiers and Laurence Berland, among others.
Google had previously withheld the documents in response to a subpoena. Bogas ruled that the company had no right to claim the documents were privileged.
Google did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE