Staff at an independent bookstore in Austin, Texas, represented by Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU)
Local 277, are celebrating new critical artificial intelligence (AI) safeguards in their collective bargaining agreement.
A powerful 100% of voting BookPeople United members cast ballots to approve their new contract earlier this month. The deal included several important provisions, including the prohibition of replacing any worker or position at the storefront with AI. Workers said they fought to secure these protections after realizing that emergent technology like ChatGPT could potentially be used to destroy jobs at the storefront.
“Making sure that we’re protecting jobs through this transition into this new tech world is the most important thing we can do,” said Texas AFL-CIO Communications Director Tara Pohlmeyer. “It’s setting a standard for a lot of other unions that workers at BookPeople were able to get this into their contract.”