Public sector workers in the US are increasingly negotiating for and winning protections against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their workplaces. This follows concerns that AI systems could lead to increased surveillance, inaccurate performance evaluations, and job displacement.
In Oakland, California, workers for the city voted overwhelmingly on 22 October to authorise a strike, with 94.1% in favour, seeking safeguards against being laid off or disciplined by AI. This action led to a tentative three-year agreement between the city government and the union, which includes provisions for retraining or reassigning workers displaced by AI, rather than dismissal. As a result, a planned strike for 5 November was put on hold.
Julian Ware, an Oakland spatial data administrator and member of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21, stated that workers want the city administration to be intentional about its engagement with AI products. He noted that new technology can sometimes be more costly, difficult to implement, and yield poorer results.
Similar efforts are underway in other states. In Pennsylvania, the Service Employees International Union Local 668, representing over 10,000 public-sector workers, pushed Governor Josh Shapiro to agree to a policy. This policy guarantees employee input and supervision in the state's use of AI and ensures the technology will not be used to discipline workers.
According to a survey by Ernst and Young conducted from July to August 2026, nearly 70% of state and local government agencies have adopted or are implementing generative AI. Unions have been advocating for AI protections since the late 2010s, with these battles intensifying as automation advances.