Workers Get Ready to Face AI Layoffs Battle
The current hype around artificial intelligence has taken off like wildfire. It all began with engineers, then investors jumped on board to cash in on the trend. Governments joined the race soon after, and now it’s the workers’ turn.
Over 200 union members and technologists gathered in Sacramento this week for a conference focused on AI and its potential risks for workers. They discussed strategies for fighting back and even considering going on strike.
The event, Making Tech Work for Workers, brought together representatives from various occupations such as dockworkers, home care aides, teachers, nurses, actors, and public employees. They are all determined to fight for greater control over the implementation of AI in their companies.
One worker named Luis, who works for Amazon in Inland Empire, California, shared how the constant tracking of his movements affected his physical and mental health. He suffered from back pain, sleepless nights, depression, and low self-esteem, leading him to quit briefly before returning due to lack of other opportunities.
The union is pushing to include AI in negotiations to empower workers, as they understand the potential job threats posed by automation. A report from the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute highlighted the risks faced by Californian workers, particularly Latinos, due to automation.
While AI can bring benefits like reducing discrimination and improving worker safety, it also poses risks such as layoffs and intensified work demands. Workplace technology, as highlighted by Lorena González, the president of the California Labor Federation, can be used as a surveillance tool by employers.
Workplace Technology and Surveillance
Lorena González emphasized how workplace technology serves as a surveillance tool for employers, a concept that is not new. She co-authored a law three years ago to protect workers from intrusive surveillance practices.
Article Translation
This article has been translated from Gizmodo US by Lucas Handley. You can find the original version here.
