The UFCW is making sure technology works for workers
Our workplaces are rapidly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. We’re not against technology – in some cases, it can make workplaces safer or more efficient. But it needs to be used to help workers and communities succeed, not as a way to get rid of good jobs.
Unions and the future of work
In our union’s history, we’ve seen many tech innovations introduced into our stores and facilities. From self-checkout in our grocery stores to depluming and evisceration machines in our poultry plants, technology and automation have had a huge impact – both positive and negative – on our members. However, UFCW members have a voice in how companies implement and use AI, automated management, and surveillance through bargaining.
– Edith Peck, UFCW Local 1529“I think this [automation] whole thing is to eliminate employees to compete with automation…They need to understand good customer service is what is going to set us apart.”
Regulating AI to protect workers’ dignity and safety
When you have a union contract, you get a say in how your workplace changes, but many workers do not. That is why we support legislative efforts that would regulate AI technology to ensure that every worker can have a workplace where their privacy and safety take priority over anything else.
