January 2024 Layoffs MAT Rap

Member Action Team Mobilizer,

As you know Google Executives continue to make our jobs worse with “restructurings” and layoffs. We need your help to move our union into action!
 
Goals of this mobilization conversation: 

1. Identify Union members directly and indirectly impacted by layoffs
2. Collect personal stories of the impact of layoffs at go.awu.fyi/GooglersAgainstLayoffs
3. Make clear direct ask to move members into action to attend Thursday In real life events if happening in the area
4. Make clear direct ask to all members to attend remote Event happening Friday
5. Move members to organize their co-workers bringing them to the In Real Life and remote events
6. Get ready more organized for actions following

MAT RAP

Introduction

Goal: initiate conversation to set up a longer (ideally face to face) check in with your assignee to check in on them and invite them to mass meeting

‍Hi ______________, How are you? Given the layoffs last week, we’re mobilizing our union to act. It’s important to me that we can connect. Can we make some time to talk? 

Check In

Goal: Care about them as a human this might be a particularly stressful time, listen to and support them.

‍How are you feeling about the layoffs? Were you directly impacted (laid off yourself)?  Is there care, help, or support you could use?

‍‍If they were laid off: go.awu.fyi/LayoffStories

‍Be empathetic and supportive. They are invited to join the Remote Googlers Against Layoffs event on Friday (RSVP at go.awu.fyi/GooglersAgainstLayoffs), but sadly they cannot join in-person events, as Execs have again locked people out of our offices without warning or notice.

Issue ID

Goal: determine how your coworker is feeling about the layoffs, how they were impacted and how they’re seeing this in the larger context

‍Was anyone on your team or org that you know impacted? If so ,how do you think these cuts impact your work life? Why do you think Google executives decided to make these cuts? Do you think it was necessary/good for Google? If not, what do you think would have made more sense? 

Vision

Goal: tie in the issue of layoffs to broader lack of power in the workplace and how we can push back on this is we take collective action and organize to build more power at work.

‍It is so frustrating to see Google executives continue to treat us with such callous disregard and our conditions continuously decline. We know workers before us have come together and built strong protections against this sort of thing (for example in France Google is offering voluntary exit packages rather than layoffs). We know we can build together to the point where we could have similar protections. We also need to act together to push back on this kind of treatment, so executives know we are not going to sit by and let this happen again and again.

Ask

Goal: Make a clear, direct ask to your coworker to attend the Googlers Against Layoffs Events

‍If Thursday Events happening in your area:

• We are meeting this coming Thursday January 18th at [see go.awu.fyi link below for your time and location] to talk through what’s going on and how we can build to take more action letting Google executives know we’re not okay with this. Can you be there? Have them fill out RSVP form go.awu.fyi/GooglersAgainstLayoffs on the spot.  
• This event is open to all – not just members. Can you think of at least 2-3 coworkers you can invite to join you? Will you reach out now to invite them? 

If They can’t make in person:

• We’re having a union wide remote event Friday January 19th at Noon PT (3pm ET) to talk through what’s going on and how we can build to take more action letting Google executives know we’re not okay with this. Can you be there? Have them fill out RSVP form go.awu.fyi/GooglersAgainstLayoffs on the spot.  
• This event is open to all – not just members. Can you think of at least 2-3 coworkers you can invite to join you? Will you reach out now to invite them?