The Intersection of the Writer’s Strike, Auto Workers Strike, and Big Tech

Would you be willing to let a robot cut your hair? Personally, I have an optimistic view of technology and automation, but when it comes to something as personal as getting a haircut, I would prefer to avoid the bleeding edge. However, when it comes to automation in digital, industrial, and manufacturing sectors, it becomes more appealing. The market has a tendency to deliver what we want and need through the adoption of new technologies. However, this progress comes with a downside. With each step towards automation, jobs are being taken away from people who rely on them for a living. This has led to labor strife in various industries. For example, script writers in Hollywood are striking due to the rise of online streaming and the availability of cheaper artificial intelligence drafting options. The United Auto Workers (UAW) are also picketing in large numbers due to concerns about worker obsolescence caused by technology advancements. In this new reality, labor unions are struggling to ensure that their workers remain valued, protected, and employed. Even the transition to electric vehicles, which require fewer workers to build, has become a concern for the UAW. They want to secure a place for their members as this manufacturing shift occurs. In California, the possibility of autonomous freight trucking has caused a labor storm, leading the state legislature to vote to effectively ban driverless trucks. Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been critical of the ban, is now facing opposition from the truckers’ union. In New York, sanitation workers have raised issues due to the city’s collective bargaining agreement that guarantees two workers on each garbage truck, despite other cities relying on mechanized pickup with fewer workers. These issues share a common aspect, which is that technological advances are allowing goods or services to reach customers with less worker input. This has led to workers viewing these changes as competition and attempting to block the technologies themselves. This resistance to technology is not new and can be seen in historical movements like the Luddites who opposed power looms in England two centuries ago. While today’s tech-averse workers, such as truckers opposing autonomous vehicles, may seem similar to the Luddites, they are generally non-violent and unlikely to be hunted down by the government. Historian Patrick Allitt from Emory University acknowledges the concerns of today’s workers but also sees a broader picture of progress on the labor front. He believes that as certain jobs disappear, new ones emerge, often offering better pay and fulfillment. Allowing unions to achieve their aims may hinder innovation and impede social progress. The question then becomes who should have the power to decide on the adoption of AI, robots, and mechanization, and how should they decide? Collective bargaining efforts are not necessarily negative, but using strikes and legislation to impede innovation is a different matter. While openness to technological change can serve the greater good, it is not always the case. Nonetheless, companies have the right to solve problems and customers have the right to benefit from the resulting solutions. Personally, I may not want a robot cutting my hair, but I would gladly welcome technological advancements if they can improve package delivery, produce a better script, or lower the price of my next car.



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