From the Desk of the Vice President of CWA District 1: Protecting Workers as Technology Evolves

Across nearly every industry, artificial intelligence is changing the way we work at an unprecedented pace. From telecommunications to media to healthcare, education, public services, and more, AI is rapidly becoming a daily part of every one of workplaces — not to mention our regular day-to-day lives. This new and rapidly evolving technology is often presented to us as exciting, innovative, or even necessary, but I know I’m not alone in my concerns about how this technology is being used and what the future looks like for working people if it’s allowed to develop unchecked and tech billionaires are the only ones with any say in how it’s used. 

As working people and union members, we know that innovation should enhance our lives, not come at our expense — but to that end, we need to be vigilant about keeping bosses in check. That's why, as a national union, we’re working on multiple fronts to ensure AI is utilized responsibly, with strong safeguards that protect both workers and consumers. We’re bargaining AI guardrails into our contracts and advocating for state and federal legislation to ensure things like transparency in how AI is used, protections against worker displacement, and limits on surveillance. 

Progress in our workplaces and in our communities is always strongest when workers have had a voice in shaping it — and AI is no different. Together, we will continue to bargain for fair standards, push for smart public policies, and ensure that the benefits of new technology are shared instead concentrated at the top.

By standing together, we can help make sure AI strengthens our workplaces, protects the public, and creates opportunities that leave no worker behind.

You can learn more about work being done by CWA members across the country to protect our work as AI develops at our National Town Hall on July 28th — click here to register.