Source: Android Central
What you need to know
- Google contractor HCL has been accused of taking retaliatory action against Pittsburgh employees who unionized last year.
- The company has gone as far as to offshore jobs to take work away from contractors.
- Google has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the complaint.
Google contractor HCL has been accused of taking retaliatory action against employees who had unionized in Pittsburgh.
The National Labor Relations Board filed a formal complaint against the company on Thursday, citing repeated instances of this behavior.
The New York Times reports:
According to the complaint, managers at the company interrogated workers about the organizing activities of their colleagues, told them that promotions and wages were being delayed because of the union campaign, and threatened to enforce work rules more strictly if the union was created, in violation of federal labor law.
After the employees voted to unionize, the labor board asserts, the company began shifting some of the work that they performed to Poland. HCL also limited their ability to participate in training sessions and required employees to take periodic "quick check" quizzes, according to the complaint.
"Sending work out of the country during a pandemic was especially kind of an unconscionable action," said Joshua Borden, an HCL worker active in the union. "They were trying to take jobs away from us in retaliation for organizing to have a fair workplace."
The employees had organized back in 2019, doing so under the United Steelworkers Union. Since then, HCL took the actions described above in what has been described as a bid to punish them. Further frustrating actions included HCL's unilaterally changing of policies revolving around breaks, vacation, family leave, and 401(k) contributions. The company has repeatedly refused to bargain with the union in all instances, acting without regard for the contractors.
While Google has yet to comment on the story, the NLRB complaint has been set to be heard on February 9, 2021. It is worth noting that while the employees do work for Google via HCL, Google has not been accused of any wrongdoing at this time.
These are the best games available on the Oculus Quest 2
Oculus Quest 2 games are enhanced with the latest graphics and let you enjoy VR experiences untethered. But Oculus Store games can get expensive, so you don't want to waste your money. Here are the best games available in your favorite genres.
Nokia G20 review: An amazing battery can't cancel out its shortcomings
Nokia wants to undercut the best cheap Android phones with the Nokia G20, a $200 phone with a massive battery that will last you several days. Buying the Nokia G20 will save you money on other popular brands, and the phone has some great perks to offer in terms of software and design features. But its slow chipset makes it hard to recommend this phone unless you're on a strict budget.
Google Maps and Waze's differences can make road trips frustrating
When the whole family is loaded up and ready for a long road trip, the last thing you want is to fuss with your navigation. Both Waze and Google Maps have some amazing features to be excellent co-pilots, but there are key features to each platform that makes one better than the other in those areas. When you "need" both apps and all of the features at once, it can make for an irritating...
Portable chargers are a necessity, so grab one for your Google Pixel
The original Pixel may still be your go-to device, but there's no mistaking that chances are the battery has degraded a bit since its release. In that case, you'll want to make sure you have an external battery pack handy at all times to make sure the Pixel lasts all day.