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The rapidly expanding capabilities of Artificial Intelligence applications are affecting almost every aspect of our lives, including our work.
CWA’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence, composed of members from across the union, has been working to address the challenges that AI presents through both bargaining strategy and public policy. CWA has taken a member-led approach to AI, harnessing the expertise of CWAers with direct experience working with AI programs from diverse industries, including call centers, telecommunications, journalism, and tech.
The committee’s first step was to develop a set of principles and recommendations for CWA’s Executive Board. The principles direct CWA bargaining committees and leadership to be proactive in bargaining contract language that protects members against the negative effects AI tools can have in workplaces, including invasive surveillance, unfair automated employment decision-making (including hiring, discipline, and pay-setting), unsafe and stressful work intensification and speed-up, the reduction of compensation or benefit levels, and the reduction of union members’ work.
The committee is now working on educational materials and a toolkit with resources for members, local officers, and bargaining committees which will be launched this summer. You can read the CWA AI principles and recommendations at cwa.org/ai-principles.