OPIU Local 153's Jessica Timo calls for worker control over workplace AI

Good evening, Speaker Menon and members of the City Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the state of artificial intelligence and its sweeping consequences on our community, workplace, and the labor movement.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

My name is Jessica Timo, and I am the president of OPIU Local 153 FLCIO, based here in New York City, representing over 11,000 workers.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

We represent a broad spectrum of workers and roles across industries, including clerical, administrative, nonprofit, tech, healthcare, credit unions, and higher education.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

The future of artificial intelligence regulation is a core question for the labor movement here in New York City.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

Drawing on the Council's attention towards the issues of artificial intelligence in the workplace, Local 153

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

has heard concerns from workers across the city and encountered workplace navigating AI implementation during our bargaining of hundreds of workers'contracts.

And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.

As a labor union, we are extremely alarmed the way the integration of AI tools and technology have negatively impacted workers we represent and cascading effect that it will have on the workers'class.

At Local 153, we represent workers who are forced to use AI.

with no autonomy regarding the implementation, we know that this trend is not only affecting our local, but workers all across the city, unionized and non-unionized.

We want workers to control the effects that AI have in the workplace.

Local 153's position is clear.

We want workers to have control over the effects that AI and the right to negotiate over its implementation.

We call on the city council to enact legislation to strengthen workers'position across the sectors to have ownership and autonomy over the impact that AI has in the workplace.

In this spirit, we urge the council to work with the mayoral administration to listen to workers over the tech billionaires and be on the right side of history.

Thank you again, New York City Council speakers and Julia Menon.

We look forward to more action and workers across the city is depending on you.

Thank you so much.

We'll now hear from Sam Wheeler.

Sam, please unmute yourself and begin.