Microsoft is teaming up with labor unions to create "an open dialogue" on
The software giant is forming an alliance with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, which comprises 60 labor unions representing 12.5 million workers, according to a statement on Monday.
Under the partnership, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft will provide labor leaders and workers with formal training on how artificial intelligence works. The education sessions will start in the winter of 2024. Microsoft will also begin gathering feedback from labor groups and will focus on unions and workers in "key selected sectors."
The initiative marks the first formal collaboration on AI between labor unions and the technology industry and coincides with
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The agreement also includes a template for "neutrality" terms that would make it easier for unions to organize at Microsoft. The move expands an approach the company already agreed to for its video game workers and lays the groundwork for broader unionization at Microsoft. Neutrality agreements commit companies not to wage anti-union campaigns in response to workers organizing.
At an event in Washington announcing the partnership, Microsoft President Brad Smith said the goal is to bring both groups to the table to "enhance" the way people work.
"I can't sit here and say that
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The alliance's goals include "sharing in-depth information with labor leaders and workers on AI technology trends, incorporating worker perspectives and expertise in the development of AI technology" and "helping shape public policy that supports the technology skills and needs of frontline workers."
"This partnership reflects a recognition of the critical role workers play in the development, deployment and regulation of AI and related technologies," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who called the collaboration "a groundbreaking" and "historic" alliance.
In a related development, Microsoft agreed to include language governing its use of AI in a contract covering a few hundred staff at the company's video game studio ZeniMax. The tentative agreement is part of negotiations with the Communications Workers of America, the first U.S. collective bargaining in Microsoft's history.
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The language incorporates
Microsoft didn't provide comment in response to inquiries about the AI contract language.