At a conference in Sacramento, over 200 union members and technologists discussed strategies to combat job losses and exploitation caused by AI. The event, organized by labor centers and unions, highlighted how AI threatens jobs across industries, including healthcare, education, and retail.
Participants emphasized the need for workers to demand negotiation rights over AI implementation. Union leaders shared concerns about AI increasing workplace surveillance, intensifying workloads, and automating discrimination.
For example, Luis, an Amazon worker, shared how constant tracking caused physical and mental strain, forcing him to quit temporarily. Amazon defended its practices, citing safety and operational needs.
Union representatives called for collective bargaining to control AI’s impact. Nurses and grocery workers face significant battles over automation in upcoming contract negotiations.
AI poses risks beyond job loss, such as treating workers like machines, said Annette Bernhardt of UC Berkeley. However, it also offers opportunities to improve workplace safety—if regulated effectively.
California Labor Federation president Lorena Gonzalez stressed the importance of legislation to protect worker privacy and prevent algorithmic exploitation. Efforts are underway to draft rules requiring companies to disclose AI usage and allow workers to opt out of data collection.
Despite challenges, union leaders, like SAG-AFTRA’s Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, believe collective action can force meaningful change. “Unity is our strength,” he said, emphasizing the power of public policy and collective bargaining to shape AI’s role in the workplace.
Advocates, including the AI Now Institute, see opportunities for collaboration between labor and tech justice movements. Strategic action could address shared concerns, such as environmental impacts of data centers, while advancing worker rights.
