Some national labor unions are opposing AI data center bans and moratoriums in the US.
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AI is both taking jobs and creating them.That's led to a divide among labor unions over AI data centers. And it largely depends on the kinds of workers they represent.The majority of the public is against AI data centers, according to polling. They worry about the environmental impacts, their strain on the electric grid, noise, or they just generally don't like the idea of artificial intelligence.Many communities have already taken action. A dozen towns in North Carolina have implemented moratoriums, and two have permanently banned the facilities. New York became the first state to approve an AI data center moratorium in July.Others are tightening restrictions. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initially showed enthusiasm for building AI data centers across the state, but has more recently issued tighter restrictions on developers after backlash from residents. On Capitol Hill, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders have called for a nationwide moratorium.AI companies, which depend on data centers to power their products, have tried to stave off such calls by promoting potential benefits like tax windfalls and job creation (at least during the construction phase).The jobs part is resonating with national labor unions representing electricians, plumbers, and construction workers. Unions representing workers who see AI as a threat to their jobs, however, have taken the opposite stance.Here's where some of the largest unions stand on the issue.International Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersIn April, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers told its 901,000 members to urge members of Congress to oppose any bills that would ban data center construction. The union provided its members with a digital toolkit that included a sample letter to send to lawmakers and instructions for social media posts.
