Unions urge Newsom and California lawmakers to rein in AI
Unions urge Newsom and California lawmakers to rein in AI
Publish Date: 2026-02-04 21:21:00
Source Domain: www.latimes.com
- Union Leaders’ Concerns: National union leaders, including Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to address the threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to workers’ rights and jobs.
- Legislative Response: The California Federation of Labor Unions is sponsoring a series of bills aimed at regulating AI usage in the workplace to protect workers, including safeguards against workplace surveillance and restrictions on AI-related layoffs.
- Key Bills:
- Senate Bill 947 would require human oversight for AI-based employee discipline/termination decisions.
- Senate Bill 951 requires 90-day advance notice before AI-related layoffs affecting 25 or more workers or 25% of the workforce.
- Assembly Bill 1331 (“No bosses in the bathroom”) grants workers the right to remove surveillance devices in public bathrooms or employee-only areas.
- Urgency and Warnings: Gonzalez and other labor leaders warn that inattention to AI regulation could impact Newsom’s presidential ambitions and argue that collaboration with Big Tech lobbyists is ineffective.
- Public Sentiment: A Pew Research Center survey indicates growing public concern about AI, with 50% of Americans more concerned than excited about its increase in daily life.
- Newsom’s Record: Newsom’s spokesperson asserts that the governor has a strong record of fighting for worker rights and has taken a comprehensive approach to AI regulation in California.
