The WOKE got a taste of capitalism as Google terminated 28 employees for a ‘sit-in’ protest. These employees were against the Tech Giant’s cloud contract with the Israeli government. Cause of termination? Well the Alphabet unit cited disruptions caused by groups of protesting employees at unspecified office locations. According to Google, such actions violate company policies and impede other employees’ work. Thus, the WOKE got a WAKE-UP call in the form of a disciplinary action that hurts their wallets!
Protests and Its Fallout At Google
So why were the employees protesting? The controversy revolves around Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract awarded to Google and Amazon.com in 2021. As per the contract the companies will provide cloud services to the Israeli government. However, in the wake of the Israel-Gaza wars, the Pro-Palestine and Anti-Semitic sentiments of a few employees rose to the fore. Thus, some employees joined the campaign to protest and have Google cancel the contract.
Well, Google did cancel but not the Israeli contract! The corporate giant terminated 28 employees, outraging people affiliated with the ring-leader of the protest – the ‘No Tech for Apartheid’ campaign. The campaigners called the termination a “flagrant act of retaliation.” Guess corporate capitalism is not fun when they ask for work and ethics in return for the salaries they pay??? The campaigners argue that peaceful protest is a fundamental right. However, they seem to forget that Google office premises are not public property! And holding unauthorized political protests cannot be labeled as stifling of dissent!
Thus, we must analyze why the WOKE went on protest mode? Just because it was with the Israeli government? Of course not! They state that the contract supports the development of military tools and intelligence by the Israeli government. And the WOKE wanted nothing to do with this! Therefore, they stated that the contract is a “major health & safety workplace conditions issue“! Yep, you read it right. They labeled the contract as Google’s disregard for the well-being of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim colleagues. Morever, they allege that the contract encouraged “Google-enabled racism, discrimination, harassment, and censorship.” Each explanation seems to reek of bias and lack of logic. Is it any surprise that they lost their jobs?!
‘Tech Giant’ Google Stands Firm
Many more need to be fired. https://t.co/3WpDBxsSFq
— Asha Jadeja Motwani 🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@ashajadeja325) April 18, 2024
Despite the backlash and allegations, Google maintains that the Project Nimbus contract is not geared towards sensitive or military-related workloads. Moreover, the protesting employees were in violation of Google’s work ethics. They disrupted the work environment, impeded the company’s work, and caused dificulties for other employees through their protests. Their banner ‘No more genocide for Profit’ brought their personal politics into the organization. Despite requests for dispersal, the employees refused to leave. They caused inconvenience at a workplace without a single care or forethought. Thus, the company feels within its rights to fire the employees.
Google's CEO tells his employees to stop bringing their politics to work and respect coworkers right to just do their job. Let's see if this causes the same media and Twitter meltdown it did when we asked the same. I doubt it! https://t.co/avAP3mqrFV pic.twitter.com/9klhYZDjNI
— DHH (@dhh) April 19, 2024
Media reports state that the company has issued a stern internal memo. The memo warns its employees that such anti-social, non-productive behavior will not be tolerated by the Tech Giant. Across the USA, 9 of the 28 terminated workers were arrested by authorities. Some of these protesters allowed 4 non-employees to enter the company’s premises. These 4 were also arrested for trespassing. The message by Google seems clear – GO WOKE, GO BROKE!
In Summary
The termination of protesting employees highlights the complex interplay between corporates and politics. Employee activism in the tech industry is a weapon in the hands of the WOKE groups. These groups arouse sentiments of Gen Z to arm-twist governments and companies. The truth is that Google Cloud supports numerous governments around the world. Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and many other nations allow Google to operate in their regions. Thus, these nations also avail the cloud computing services of the Tech Giant!
Thus, one must question why ‘mental well-being’ was not a concern during the peak of the Ukraine-Russia war!? Why do the WOKE bleeding hearts love the Gazans’ cause? Why is there a fierce love for Palestine? The answer is simple. They are brainwashed zombies that got bitten by the WOKE virus?! While the termination and its controversy may continue, the incident teaches valuable lessons to the Gen Z of Bharat. Wokeism is not welcome in places where Sanity and Logic coexist peacefully! And Capitalist Corporations work on the motto – No Work, No Pay!