CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos Delivers AI Recommendations to Global Union in Geneva

Earlier this month, CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos traveled to the UNI Global Union headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to deliver details of CWA’s groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence oversight and worker protections. The conference brought together over 100 union leaders from unions around the globe to address the need for an ethical foundation for the use of AI.

“The best way to safeguard humanity is for humanity itself to have a say in how these tools are used, and unions remain the most effective instrument we have for ensuring that the voices of working people are heard in the policy arena,” said Ramos. “Since unions can be far more nimble than governments, we must embrace our place at the forefront of the conversation on what it means to develop, deploy, and use AI in an ethical way.”

Her presentation outlined the methods CWA used to formulate its recommendations for proactive bargaining for 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. More information can be found in CWA’s Report on AI Principles and Recommendations.

During a question and answer session directly following her presentation, Ramos shared details of CWA’s successful bargaining on artificial intelligence with companies like Microsoft’s ZeniMax game studio “to ensure AI tools are used to enhance worker productivity, growth, and satisfaction without causing workers’ harm.” She also touted contract language with the Associated Press, where NewsGuild-CWA members won the requirement that generative AI be used “only with the direct involvement and oversight of employees.” The contract also barred the use of AI to terminate an employee, eliminate a position, or cut employee benefits.

 
CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos presented the CWA’s Report on AI Principles and Recommendations to the UNI Global Union in Geneva, Switzerland.