University of California tech workers vote to unionize with desire to shape AI policy

More than 2,000 University of California tech workers voted to seek union representation due to concerns about layoffs and a desire to influence how the university implements artificial intelligence. If election results are certified, the University and Professional Technical Employees union would form the largest tech worker bargaining unit in the country, with 8,400 members across the UC system, including more than 600 at UC Berkeley. Union organizers said collective bargaining would ensure on-campus workers who understand AI help shape its use. The Public Employment Relations Board is reviewing the petition, and the university is awaiting guidance. Union leaders cited job security as the main concern, noting layoffs in some campus IT departments.

"More than 2,000 University of California tech workers voted to seek union representation earlier this month, saying they're concerned about layoffs and want a say in how the university implements artificial intelligence. If the election results are certified by the state's public employment relations board, the University and Professional Technical Employees union would have the largest tech worker bargaining unit in the country, union officials said, with 8,400 members including more than 600 at UC Berkeley."

"Union activists involved in the organizing drive framed it as a way to ensure that the on-campus workers who best understand AI can, through collective bargaining, help shape the university's use of the technology. High-level decisions regarding AI or any technology are often not made by people who are actually implementing these tools, but those are the people that should have a place at the table, said Max Belasco, a business systems analyst at UCLA."

"University of California spokesperson Heather Hansen said in a statement that the Public Employee Relations Board was reviewing the union's petition and the university was awaiting guidance from the board. The University of California values the contributions of its technical and IT employees and remains committed to maintaining productive relationships with represented and non-represented employees alike, she said."

"Dan Russell, the union's president and a business technology support analyst at UC Berkeley, said job security was the biggest concern he heard from colleagues on campus. Some campus IT departments had seen layoffs in the last six months, he said."

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