University of California IT employees form biggest tech worker union in the US (www.bloodinthemachine.com)

In a landmark move for labor rights in the tech industry, thousands of IT employees within the University of California (UC) system have voted to unionize, creating the largest tech worker union in the United States. This expansion of the University and Professional Technical Employees (UPTE) now brings the total to 8,400 workers, who aim to protect jobs and influence the governance of AI technologies in their workplaces. Amid rising concerns over mass layoffs linked to AI implementation, the new union emphasizes the need for workers to have a say in how technological changes affect their roles, advocating for layoff protections and enhanced job security. This organizational victory highlights a growing trend of tech workers seeking collective power, as traditional industry norms of individualism are increasingly challenged. With the ability to collectively bargain over AI tools, the UPTE union represents a significant evolution in the discourse surrounding AI governance, pushing back against executive decisions that often overlook the contributions and insights of the workers who interact with technology daily. The efforts at UC could serve as a blueprint for other tech workers across the country, signaling a crucial shift towards democratic governance of AI, where the perspectives of those affected by automation and technological shifts are prioritized.