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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
Google employees in two different U.S. offices protested the company’s work with the Israeli government on Tuesday, objecting to a $1.2bn contract it signed with the U.S. ally three years ago. Dozens of employees began occupying company offices in New York City and Sunnyvale, California. The contract, known as Nimbus, that Google shares with Amazon provides cloud computing services to the Israeli government. The contract has faced backlash from employees and activists since it was signed in 2021, but the objections have grown amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. “I would not like to lose my job,” explained Google Software engineer Emaan Haseem. “But I think that it is impossible for me to continue coming into work every week without acknowledging and loudly condemning Project Nimbus and any support for the Israeli government.”
Full IssueHuman Times
UK
The TUC has warned that Britain is failing to keep up with the regulation of AI in the workplace, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. It has proposed a legal blueprint for regulating AI, including a legal duty for employers to consult trade unions on the use of high-risk and intrusive forms of the technology. Other countries such as the US, China, and Canada are already implementing new laws for the use of AI. TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell said: “UK employment law is simply failing to keep pace with the rapid speed of technological change. We are losing the race to regulate AI in the workplace. AI is already making life-changing calls in the workplace, including how people are hired, performance managed and fired. We urgently need to put new guardrails in place to protect workers from exploitation and discrimination. This should be a national priority. Other countries are regulating workplace AI – so that staff and employers know where they stand. The UK can't afford to drag its feet and become an international outlier.”
Full IssueHuman Times
Europe
Greece's largest union, the General Confederation of Greek Workers, has staged a 24-hour walkout to protest the cost of living and demand higher wages. The strike disrupted public transport and ferry services to the islands, as well as the Athens metro. Around 4,000 people demonstrated in central Athens in support of the strike. Hospital doctors, taxis, and buses also joined the strike. This marks the second strike in six weeks, reflecting growing social discontent against the conservative government. Despite criticism from union leaders, the ruling New Democracy party remains ahead in the polls ahead of the European Parliament elections.
Full IssueHuman Times
Middle East
Private sector employees in the UAE are calling on their employers to provide remote work options during heavy rainfall and unstable weather conditions. Despite the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation's recommendation for prioritising employee safety, some employees were still required to commute to their offices. Professionals who rely on in-person meetings expressed the need for flexibility in the private sector to accommodate such situations. However, healthcare workers and roles that require physical presence are unable to work remotely. Social media posts highlighted the dissatisfaction of private sector workers who had to travel to work in hazardous weather conditions. While remote work has been widely implemented in government entities, exceptions exist for roles that necessitate physical presence.
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