What’s the conference about?

This January, we are bringing together workers, unions, community groups, and allies from across California to talk about how new workplace technologies like AI are affecting jobs and workers.

We’ll have interactive and hands-on sessions where workers and organizers take the lead. Our goals include:

• Understanding how technologies are changing our workplaces, especially for women, immigrants, and workers of color;

• Sharing ideas for new laws to protect workers against harms from digital technologies;

• Highlighting successful examples of workers using collective bargaining and organizing to respond to rapid changes; and

• Building stronger connections among groups working for tech justice and workers' rights.

Why is it important?

Across the country, employers are using AI and digital tools in ways that can dramatically affect wages, working conditions, race and gender equity, and worker power. These technologies are showing up in industries like trucking, hospitals, retail, entertainment, the public sector, and more. They’re being used to hire and fire workers, track performance, and even replace tasks.

The lack of regulation in the U.S. means that employers are free to use digital tools at will, in ways that can harm workers. Some of these harms include: 

• Increased workloads and stress

• Job losses due to automation

• Unsafe working conditions

• Bias and discrimination

• More contingent work

• Suppression of the right to organize

• Less autonomy and privacy

What can we do to respond?

Unions and other advocates are responding with solutions like new laws, executive orders, and collective bargaining to make sure digital technologies work for workers. But we are just at the beginning of this workplace revolution. That’s why we’re coming together to learn, share strategies, and build a stronger movement for worker-centered tech in California and beyond.

Who is putting on this conference?

This conference is being organized by the Conference Steering Committee, with advice from the Labor Advisory Committee.

This conference is made possible by the generous support of the Freedom Together Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Omidyar Network Fund.

COVID Guidelines: Thank you for helping us ensure a safe event for all. We request anyone not feeling well or exhibiting any symptoms to please stay home. We encourage everyone to test before attending the event and will have masks available upon request.