AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told Semafor that the union federation is preparing a comprehensive, "gold-standard" artificial intelligence bill that it hopes lawmakers will pass in the next Congress.
What the bill will cover
According to Shuler, the proposed legislation will address worker protections, privacy and data safeguards, and ideas related to economic impacts. She said the bill will be the AFL-CIO's highest priority.
Political and organizational context
Shuler said the AFL-CIO has tried to use AI to mobilize voters during this election cycle. At the same time, she noted that data center developments are creating divisions within organized labor and provoking public backlash, which she described as a manifestation of workers' anxiety and uncertainty.
She emphasized that workplace changes that feel out of control have left many people anxious, and that this sense of uncertainty has increased since June.
Data centers versus AI-driven job displacement
Shuler drew a distinction between controversies over data centers and the broader issue of job displacement driven by AI. She predicted that employment losses tied to AI will translate into greater political consequences going forward.
She also said data centers will be built regardless, and the key question is whether they are constructed with good union jobs and a high-standard approach.
Why this matters
The AFL-CIO's initiative is notable because a major labor federation is attempting to shape AI regulation with a focus on worker protections and data governance. If the union's bill gains traction, it could influence debates in the next Congress about how to balance technological deployment with labor and privacy safeguards.
