The Future of Cyberunions in the Era of AI-Based Automation of Work

Alice Kang

Keywords: AI ethics, labor studies, labor justice, labor union, cyberunion, human-centered AI, critical computing

TL;DR: This study proposes how we can imagine the future of cyberunions in the era of generative AI-driven automation of work, by engaging labour union members in participatory action research.

Abstract: The Cyberunion model, proposed with the rise of the Internet, is a set of strategies for unions to mobilize the labour movement in the online space [1]. With shifts in the trends in technology, however, scholars have suggested changes to the Cyberunion model to bring unions up to date with current technological developments [2]. Today, we see yet another shift in modern technology towards generative AI. While AI may be a promising next step for cyberunions, the integration of AI-based automation in the workplace directly challenges the goals of unions in improving worker agency and security [5, 6]. In this study, we will explore the potential of AI as a strategic tool for unions through participatory action research involving community-led discussions, ethnographic field studies, and co-design workshops. By centering the capabilities of union members as designers of their own future, we will understand how the state of the art in AI shapes collective action in labour justice, and how in turn, it can equip unions with novel opportunities to adapt to the era of generative AI.

Submission Number: 6