In labor news, Google has come under fire after laying off dozens of unionized contract workers in a likely act of retaliation. The workers were made aware of their firing as they spoke last week in front of the Austin City Council, which was preparing to vote on a resolution in support of their efforts to negotiate with Google.

Jack Benedict: “There are less than 50 of us at YouTube Music, and we’re taking on two of the largest corporations in the world. So, to be supported by the city of Austin and also our allies in the labor community give us the motivation to keep this fight going.”

Katie-Marie Marschner: “Not to interrupt, but they just laid us all off.”

Jack Benedict: “Oh.”

Katie-Marie Marschner: “Yeah, they just laid us all off.”

Jack Benedict: “We just all — I guess we just all got laid off.”

Katie-Marie Marschner: “Our jobs are ended today, effective immediately.”

Jack Benedict: “Wow.”

Mayor Kirk Watson: “I’m sorry, your time’s expired.”

The workers, who oversee the YouTube Music platform, voted to join the Alphabet Workers Union last year. Since then, Google has refused to bargain with the workers because they are subcontracted through another company — this, despite the National Labor Relations Board ruling Google is a co-employer and must bargain with the group. Google claims the unionized workers were let go because their contract had ended, even though it was routinely renewed and Google has a track record of firing workers during labor organizing efforts.