We see it in the self-driving Waymo cars in Phoenix, in the self-checkout lanes at our local stores and even in the online customer service platforms we use every day. While AI offers undeniable time-saving benefits, its ripple effects on our workforce deserve equal attention.
The challenge is clear: as AI drives efficiency, it displaces traditional roles. Consider how the convenience of ordering groceries online or having a meal delivered through services like Door Dash or Uber Eats is reshaping our communities. Although these platforms support gig economy workers, they also erode the solid, secure union jobs that underpin our industries.
The impact reaches our factories and stores. In food packing and processing plants, automated systems are now inspecting meat—roles once filled by skilled human inspectors. In Tucson, Albertsons is testing digital shelf tags that could eliminate the manual process of updating price tags—a full-time position for many in our stores. And our familiar self-checkout machines are not just about convenience; they are part of a strategy to reduce payroll expenses by replacing people with machines that demand no benefits or pensions.
Consequences extend beyond
The consequences extend beyond individual jobs. As automation reduces employment opportunities, more workers find themselves forced to accept any available job, which in turn puts downward pressure on wages.
Additionally, when fewer employees contribute to health and pension trust funds through consistent payroll numbers, the benefits that secure our futures become vulnerable—even for those who remain employed.
Our communities feel the strain, too. With rising unemployment, tax revenues dwindle, undermining essential services like education, public safety, and healthcare. And while customers often cherish the warmth of a personal interaction—a smile, a helping hand—the cold efficiency of machines leaves them frustrated, forcing eventual human intervention when something goes wrong.
Nothing can replace the human element. For AI to work, it focuses on the norm, but human beings are not normal. We are unique in every sense of the word.
AI separates and processes expressions of emotion from actual emotion. AI doesn’t see struggle as it happens and struggle is important. It’s how we grow, it’s how we’ve grown our union.
Keep each other in check
We challenge each other to keep each other in check. It’s important to our growth. We need to struggle, to do the hard work, to grow with each other.
Technology has long driven the American economy, and our union has generally welcomed progress—as long as the dignity of our members is respected and protected.
Today, as we face rapid AI advancements, we must be mindful of its cost.
We must be vigilant. With our master food contract expiring in less than a year, it is crucial that we understand the cause and effect of these technological shifts. By educating ourselves and pushing for responsible implementation, we can safeguard our jobs and our communities from an uncertain future.
