California Workers Unite Against AI Job Threats: A Call to Action

In Summary

At a landmark gathering in Sacramento, workers discussed defenses against artificial intelligence and surveillance technology.

The current frenzy around artificial intelligence has spread like a shockwave, starting from engineers inspired by a 2017 research paper to venture capitalists eager to profit from a new boom, followed by government officials racing to impose regulations.

Now it’s labor’s turn. More than 200 trade union members and technologists gathered in Sacramento this week at a first-of-its-kind conference to discuss how AI and other tech threaten workers and strategize for upcoming fights and possible strikes.

The Making Tech Work for Workers event, convened by University of California labor centers, unions, and worker advocates, attracted participants from various occupations including dock workers, home care workers, teachers, nurses, and actors. A key takeaway from the conference was that workers are determined to fight for the right to negotiate more control over how AI is deployed within companies.

Union representatives highlighted ways AI threatens jobs, from screenwriting to driving taxis and cashier roles. Luis, an Amazon worker, expressed how technology tracking every movement affected his physical and mental health, leading to back pain and depression.

Amazon's spokesman stated that employees are encouraged to work with intention and can take breaks as needed, arguing that using cameras is common practice for safety and inventory management.

As the political landscape shifts with President-elect Donald Trump preparing for his administration, uncertainty looms over how workers' tech issues will be addressed. Participants at the conference focused on protecting workers from tech exploitation and urged for negotiation on the use of AI in workplaces.

The United Food and Commercial Workers and the National Nurses Union will face crucial fights related to automation this year as they bargain new contracts, challenging the roles of self-checkout stands and AI tools in healthcare.

While corporations market AI as a transformative technology, events like the Sacramento conference indicate that unions are galvanizing workers to organize against technological threats. Union leaders stressed the importance of including AI in collective bargaining negotiations to ensure worker safety and rights.

Reports indicate that 4.5 million Californians are at high risk of job loss due to automation, with more than half of those workers being Latino. A Gallup poll revealed that automation is a major concern for three out of four Americans. The potential of AI to both improve and harm working conditions underscores the need for organized labor to have a voice in the technology's implementation.

California is drafting rules to protect workers from AI that can automate discrimination and requires businesses to inform job applicants when AI is in use. Union leaders like Lorena Gonzalez advocate for stronger protections and are working with other states to ensure workers' privacy and rights in the face of increasing technology use.

The push for worker rights amidst advancing technology showcases the ongoing struggle between labor interests and corporate power, emphasizing the need for collective action and negotiation to shape the future of work.