Sen. Bernie Sanders hosts labor leaders urging moratorium on AI data centers and worker‑centered rules
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Summary
At a Senate forum, major union leaders urged Congress to pause construction of AI data centers and adopt worker‑first policies, arguing unregulated AI threatens millions of jobs, public services and patient safety; unions offered a 'workers' first AI agenda' and pressed for bargaining rights and training.
Sen. Bernie Sanders convened a forum with national labor leaders to press Congress for immediate action on artificial intelligence, calling for a moratorium on new AI data centers and worker‑centered rules to prevent mass job loss and other harms.
Sanders opened by describing AI and robotics as among the most consequential technologies in history and said the forum would focus on economic impacts for American workers. "How the hell do you go forward and throw millions of people out on the street without planning what's gonna happen?" Sanders asked, urging policymakers to slow deployment until protections are in place.
Labor leaders presented similar warnings and proposals. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL‑CIO, said workers are ‘‘scared, [and] anxious’’ and described a "workers' first AI agenda" she said is a roadmap for centering labor in technology decisions. "We're gonna use every lever of power we have to make it a reality," Shuler said, urging collective bargaining, training and safeguards.
Sean Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers, urged the right to negotiate how AI will affect jobs and pushed for profit sharing and a shorter work week. "We need 3 things out of any AI transition," Fain said, listing union negotiation rights, a democratic planning process and a fair share of gains for workers.
Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, emphasized that AI "cannot replace the dedication of those who have answered the call to become educators" and called for ethical, evidence‑based adoption with equitable access and educator‑led implementation and training.
Randy Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told the forum that unions and advocates have already produced guardrails and model laws and urged Congress to act rather than rely on piecemeal contract‑by‑contract protections. "Where is the Congress?" she asked.
Sarah Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, highlighted aviation as a model for regulation and safety oversight, and said strong regulation and organizing power are needed to protect frontline workers.
Jamie Brown, co‑president of National Nurses United, warned that some hospitals are deploying untested AI that can short‑staff units and replace clinical judgment. Brown named Palantir as a partner in some hospital systems and said, citing a company executive’s boast mentioned at the forum, that the firm manages up to 21% of U.S. hospital beds; she framed the unchecked growth of data centers as a public health, environmental and workers' rights crisis.
Speakers repeatedly endorsed Sanders' proposed pause on data center construction until labor‑centered regulations exist. The forum produced no formal votes or legislative action; organizers said they will press Congress to consider legislation and urged continued organizing and local resistance to new data centers.
The forum closes with Sanders repeating that the country must decide whether workers or a handful of billionaires will reap AI's benefits and calling for a national debate and legislative action.
