In a recent development, the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA has made claims that Google terminated the contract of a team of contractors working for YouTube Music after they participated in a prolonged strike. The union represents the contractors, who were moderators employed by Google contractor Cognizant in Austin, Texas.

The team, consisting of over 40 workers, was responsible for approving music content for YouTube Music. They went on strike in February of last year, demanding changes to Google's return-to-work policy. The union stated that many remote workers were being paid as little as $19 an hour, making it financially challenging for them to work from the office.

Responding to these allegations, Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini clarified that the decision to cut the team was not made by Google but by Cognizant. Mencini explained, "Contracts with our suppliers across the country routinely end on their natural expiry date."

This dispute over worker classification has been ongoing, with Google previously asserting that it did not have to negotiate with the contractors since they are not considered Google employees. However, in March 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Google should be recognized as a partial employer because it controlled various aspects of the contractors' work, such as benefits, hours, and direction. Google appealed the decision, but in January of this year, the NLRB upheld its ruling. Google does have the option to appeal to a federal court.

Jack Benedict, a contractor and union member, expressed disappointment with Google's actions, stating, "This is devastating. We have been fighting for years now to get Google, one of the most powerful and well-resourced companies in the world, to negotiate with us so that we could make a living in exchange for the work we do to make their products better."

This is not the only case where Google is facing pressure to recognize contractors as employees. CNBC reported that the NLRB also stated in regards to unionized contractors with Accenture, who worked on Google Search and pre-rebrand Bard, that Google can be considered a partial employer.

As this situation continues to unfold, Google's response and the outcome of any potential legal appeals will be closely watched. The fight for fair treatment and recognition of contract workers as employees remains a pressing concern not only for YouTube Music contractors but also for others in similar positions across various industries.