(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The National AFL-CIO and 32 National Labor Organizations are calling on U.S. Senators to remove a dangerous provision from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that would ban States from passing or enforcing laws protecting Workers from the threats Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses to their rights, jobs and safety.

In a new letter, the National AFL-CIO and Labor Organizations have urged the Senate to remove a reckless provision included in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s text of the Reconciliation Bill that would overrule State and Local Laws passed to protect their Workforces from the harm of unchecked AI and ban States from taking any further legislative action for 10 years. 

The Unions wrote: “(This provision) would endanger progress in the States and silence local voices responding to real-world harms from Worker surveillance and algorithmic firing, to automated price and wage manipulation that undermines economic fairness, to deepfakes and disinformation that undermine safety and public trust, and to dangerous experimentation with AI-enabled automation systems.” 

Their letter also strongly urged the Senators not to infringe on the right of States to protect Workers by implementing commonsense safety measures, which have bipartisan support in Congress and with the public. 

Six in 10 Americans say that Federal AI Safety Laws don’t go far enough to protect them.

All 50 States have introduced regulations related to AI and as many as 40 have passed legislation.

Red and Blue States alike are prioritizing AI safety measures, including Worker protections, mental health protections and consumer data guidelines.

Without Senate action, the Bill would allow employers to outsource major decisions about jobs, health care and Workers’ lives to AI, jeopardizing safety at work and violating basic rights, the Union Organizations said.

In the letter, the Labor Groups wrote: “States are the laboratories of Democracy and banning existing and future policymaking will shut down those laboratories and leave everyone vulnerable to wide-ranging abuses stemming from irresponsible AI.”

The letter concludes: “With Congress failing to enact meaningful AI regulation, States remain our last line of defense. We urge you to oppose this dangerous provision and allow States to do their jobs.”

Signatories include:

The National AFL-CIO
Actors’ Equity Association
The American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Musicians
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
Communications Workers of America
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Union
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
International Union of Elevator Constructors
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO
NFL Players Association
National Federation of Federal Employees
National Nurses United
Office and Professional Employees International Union
Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Service Employees International Union
Transport Workers Union of America
Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
United Auto Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
United Mineworkers of America
United Steelworkers
UNITE HERE
Writers Guild of America East

Read the full letter here.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Unions Urge Senators to Remove Ban on State-Level AI Accountability Laws from Budget Reconciliation Bill | AFL-CIO

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