Protecting Workers from Artificial Intelligence
Our union advocated for the Legislative Oversight of Automated Decision-making in Government (LOADinG) Act that went into effect on Dec. 19, 2025. The law protects various public employees across New York State from displacement due to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Are you protected?
Employees that are protected by the LOADinG Act include those of any town, village, district corporation, city, school district, board of cooperative educational services, county vocational education and extension board, community colleges, SUNY or CUNY.
How The LOADing Act Protects You…
The use of AI cannot result in the displacement of employees, transfer of existing duties or affect any civil service protections or rights provided by a collective bargaining agreement. Prior to the LOADinG Act, only state employees and public authorities were protected from AI.
What else does the LOADinG Act do?
Employers are required to disclose their use of AI systems and the state must maintain an inventory of AI systems in use. Employers that use tools that automate or replace human decision-making regarding employment must also disclose the use of the use of such tool(s) on their website.
A blitz is when you gather your officers and anyone who wants to help and go knock on members’ doors to have one-on-one conversations at their homes. This allows members to feel free to ask questions or just talk without being judged or influenced. It allows us the opportunity to LISTEN to what they want from our union.
Have union meetings with substance. Bring in elected officials or other department heads to speak on a subject. Bring in other union officials to speak about issues going on in your community or throughout the state. Make your meetings fun but informative.
Gather ideas from your members, survey your members to gain insight on what is on their minds, and develop communication tools like emails, Facebook, or Twitter feeds to keep people informed.
New Employee Orientation Welcome Video
Now that you’ve learned how to conduct your New Employee Orientation, the following is a very brief “welcome to CSEA” video you can show to new employees that highlights our new ability to allow new members to easily join our union by texting. This is available for union leaders to utilize in conjunction with the New Employee Orientation packets available from your Region Office.
At your workplace, have our union sponsor a button day, lollipop day, coffee hour, lunch and learn, solidarity shirt day, or some other simple activity, to keep our union visible in your workplace.
Every community has a little league, youth soccer, softball, or other youth program. Have your union local sponsor a team, a bbq, or other event. Be present at their ceremonies or other events. People notice when our union is engaged in our communities.