Google Union demands abortion care benefits for contractors

Mountain View, California - The Google Union is mobilizing to extend abortion care benefits to contract workers, with hundreds of employees signing a petition sent to top executives.

The Alphabet Workers Union has come out in support of extending benefits to contractors.
The Alphabet Workers Union has come out in support of extending benefits to contractors.  © JASON REDMOND / AFP

The staff also called for a halt to donations given to anti-abortion politicians and to expand travel benefits.

The petition, circulated by the Alphabet Workers Union, has been signed by over 650 employees at Google's parent company, Alphabet.

Following the historic Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the company followed suit with other big industry names in announcing benefits, including out-of-state medical procedures, for full-time employees but not contract and temporary workers, known internally as TVCs.

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The company then said employees in affected states can apply for permanent relocation without giving any justification.

In the letter addressed to Google and Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai and other executives, members of the union also requested the company stop using gendered language when providing abortion resources.

Alphabet union demands a stop to lobbying

In addition, they are asking for a minimum of seven days of additional sick time, as the workers will need to travel for significant periods to obtain health services.

The union demanded protection of Google employees from corporate influence.

"Alphabet must stop lobbying politicians and any political organizations, through NETPac or any other means because these politicians were responsible for appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and continue to infringe on other human rights issues related to voting access and gun control," the statement said.

As of July, the company has 174,014 full-time employees, and more than 100,000 contractors.

Cover photo: JASON REDMOND / AFP

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