US workers overwhelmingly support stricter rules on the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace and see labor unions as the most trusted defenders against potential harms from the technology, according to a new survey released by the AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of labor unions.
The poll, conducted with David Binder Research between April 14 and April 22, surveyed 1,588 workers nationwide and found near-universal backing for what respondents viewed as “pro-worker” AI safeguards.
More than 90% of those surveyed supported key protections, including 95% who said a human should remain the final decision-maker on any workplace issue affecting employment. A similarly high 92% backed stronger guardrails to prevent harmful uses of AI and called for greater transparency and accountability when employers deploy the technology.
Support was broad across all categories tested. Every proposed worker protection received backing from at least 75% of respondents, including a measure supported by 75% of workers that would expand opportunities to form unions specifically to defend against AI-driven job disruption.
The findings come as artificial intelligence tools are increasingly introduced into hiring, scheduling, monitoring, and performance evaluation systems across industries — often with limited disclosure to workers.
Only 7% of respondents said their employers had clearly disclosed when AI is used to monitor work performance, while 70% said no disclosure had been made at all and 23% were unsure. An overwhelming 94% said employers should be required to inform workers when AI is used for monitoring.
When asked which institutions they trust most to protect workers from the impact of AI, 38% chose labor unions — far ahead of Democrats (17%), Republicans (10%), employers (6%), and “none of the above” (18%).
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, said the results reflected a clear mandate.
“These results make it clear: our Workers First Initiative on AI is not just a set of principles, but a mandate to deliver,” she said. “The vast majority of America’s workers agree on how to move forward on AI and who they trust to do it — and it’s not Big Tech or employers — it’s the labor movement.”
Workers in unionized sectors say those concerns are already shaping contract negotiations. Anna Iovine, unit chair of the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, said her union secured protections in 2024 that require transparency around AI use and prohibit layoffs or pay cuts tied to automation.
“It’s the latest way that companies can lay people off or reduce their workforce by saying AI will do it instead,” she said.
Healthcare workers have raised similar concerns. Hannah Drummond, a registered nurse in North Carolina and member of National Nurses United, said her union contract now requires employer approval before new AI systems affecting patient care can be introduced.
“We should not be experimenting on our patients,” she said, adding that some hospital systems are already using algorithms for staffing and patient risk prediction despite known inaccuracies. “Patients are not guinea pigs.”
The survey also found that 78% of workers believe it is “extremely” or “very” important for action to be taken to protect employees from AI-related risks.
As AI adoption accelerates across workplaces, labor leaders say the results reinforce their argument that workers want stronger oversight — and that unions should play a central role in shaping how the technology is used.
