Union leaders’ support for Newsom hinges on AI stance

Source Domain: calmatters.org

National and California labor union leaders are warning Gavin Newsom that union support for his potential 2028 presidential campaign depends on safeguarding jobs from artificial intelligence (AI) impacts.
The California Federation of Labor Unions views AI as the largest existential threat to working Americans, emphasizing a need for guidelines to protect employment.
The unions single out Newsom due to his early pre-campaign status and California’s leading role in AI development, highlighting his ambivalent attitude towards AI’s effects.
Newsom vetoed a union-backed bill (Senate Bill 7) that would have restricted employers from using AI for employee discipline and termination decisions, indicating a conflict between pro-industry policies and labor protection.
The article notes uncertainty among experts about the exact impacts of AI on various industries and job types, though unions assume the worst-case scenario.
The labor unions’ concerns were demonstrated through the 148-day Hollywood screenwriters’ strike in 2023 due to AI’s role in their profession.
Newsom’s State of the State address reflected his acknowledgment of AI’s dual promise and peril, advocating for ethical AI usage while balancing economic growth.

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