Public-sector unions across the United States are increasingly mobilizing to secure protections against artificial intelligence and automation technologies in their workplaces. In Oakland, California, workers with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers voted overwhelmingly on 22 October to authorize a strike over concerns that AI systems could increase surveillance, inaccurately evaluate performance, and displace workers. The union’s show of force prompted city officials to negotiate a tentative three-year agreement that includes provisions requiring retraining or reassignment of workers affected by AI rather than outright termination.
According to a survey conducted from July to August 2026, nearly 70% of state and local government agencies have adopted or are implementing generative AI. Labor leaders argue that policymakers have moved too slowly to address AI’s impact on workers, leaving unions to negotiate protections through collective bargaining. These efforts include requiring advance notice before technology deployment, providing workers with information about new systems, and ensuring labor’s right to negotiate over their implementation.
Workers and unions have raised specific concerns about “bossware”—AI tools designed to monitor, evaluate, and supervise employees across industries. Such systems can track location and activity, monitor productivity, evaluate workers for hiring and firing decisions, and analyze biometrics and emotions. Labor advocates emphasize that while some automation technologies may benefit public-sector workers, human oversight and control must remain paramount.
Several jurisdictions have already seen labor victories. Pennsylvania became the first state to run a pilot program with OpenAI, prompting Service Employees International Union Local 668 to push the governor to guarantee employee input, supervision, and protections against worker displacement. Meanwhile, workers in Florida and New York are proactively attempting to block deployment of autonomous vehicles by Waymo and local governments, citing safety concerns and job threats. The California Federation of Labor Unions has similarly opposed AI implementation in transportation, healthcare, and education sectors.
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