NLRB affirms Google’s obligation to bargain

“This is a victory for temps, vendors and contractors around the industry who just want to have a say in their benefits and working conditions”

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (April 14, 2026) — The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that Google violated legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to bargain with members of the Alphabet Workers Union during negotiations with Accenture, a Google vendor. Alphabet is Google’s parent company.

The NLRB found specifically that Google violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the NLRA by refusing to bargain with the union during negotiations with Accenture.

“We’re excited to once again be affirmed by the NLRB,” said Mitchell Kernot, a Senior Writer on the content creation team at Accenture. “All we’ve been asking for is our seat at the table, to discuss our rights and needs as employees in a changing industry. It’s time for Google to do their part and come to the table in good faith.”

Alphabet workers started organizing with the Communications Workers of America in 2020, launching Alphabet Workers Union-CWA Local 9009 in January of 2021. The union includes workers in the United States and Canada, both direct employees of Alphabet and Alphabet subcontractors, who are referred to internally as “Temps, Vendors, and Contractors” (TVCs). The workers at the center of this case are jointly-employed by Google and their vendor, Accenture; they secured a contract with Accenture in December of 2024, but Google maintained it was not an employer required to bargain, despite the fact that these workers work on contracts solely for Google despite being paid by a third party.

Alphabet Workers Union-CWA Local 9009 members secured a first contract in 2024. Photo: Alphabet Workers Union

“Google needs to take responsibility, follow the law, and negotiate with the Alphabet Workers Union. Since the original joint-employer ruling, Google has tried to reorganize their operations in many ways to challenge the legal determination by the Board,” said Alphabet Workers Union-CWA Local 9009 in a news release. “Despite this attempt, it continues to be impossible for Accenture to be the sole Employer when Google still has full control over the work that’s performed. Every minor change they make is just an attempt to evade accountability.”

Tech sector employers are increasingly hiring workers through third-party vendors, a move the union and other worker advocates have described as an attempt to avoid paying fair wages and benefits. For Alphabet Workers Union members, this NLRB ruling is a win for all the industry TVCs seeking better pay, respect, and a voice on the job.

“This is a victory for temps, vendors and contractors around the industry who just want to have a say in their benefits and working conditions,” said Tahlia Kirk, a writer and team trainer at Accenture. “We’re glad the NLRB made the right decision and affirmed our right to bargain with Google, and are hopeful they will come to the table so we can get a fair next contract.”