Teamsters endorse autonomous vehicle bill AB 33 amid support for regulating job-killing automation

New Poll Shows 79 Percent of California Voters Support Human Operators in AVs, 86 Percent Believe Big Tech Has Too Much Power

Teamsters proudly endorse California Assembly Bill 33 (AB 33), a bill that would require a trained human operator in any autonomous vehicle (AV) used to deliver commercial goods directly to residences or businesses. The legislation, introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, comes on the heels of a new poll that shows California voters overwhelmingly support efforts to regulate driverless cars and trucks as well as artificial intelligence (AI).

“The evidence is clear: Californians are sick and tired of Big Tech’s complete disregard for the impact of AI on safety, jobs, and our communities. Driverless trucks are dangerous, and delivery drivers across the state are demanding elected officials fight with us to protect good middle class jobs,” said Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and President of Joint Council 7. “The Teamsters applaud Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry for introducing AB 33 and continuing the fight to keep our streets safe, workers employed, and Big Tech held to account.”

The poll, conducted by Tulchin Research, found that 79 percent of California voters support requiring a trained human safety operator to be present in any self-driving truck or delivery vehicle operating on public roads and freeways in California. The survey also found that 84 percent of voters are concerned about AI and automation eliminating jobs and displacing workers, and 86 percent agreed that Big Tech companies have too much power and more needs to be done to stand up for consumers and workers.

The widespread deployment of AV delivery vehicles threatens to displace hundreds of thousands of hardworking Californians who rely on their good-paying jobs in the transportation and delivery sectors to support their families. By creating a balanced framework that allows for the deployment of emerging technology while protecting people, jobs, and public safety, AB 33 provides a reasonable solution for the problems automation presents to the state’s workforce.

“The Teamsters will not back down as Big Tech continues to put profits over working people and public safety,” said Chris Griswold, Teamsters International Vice President At-Large and President of Joint Council 42. “The regulation of driverless vehicles has overwhelming bipartisan support for a reason. AVs are dangerous and a threat to hundreds of thousands of California workers. AB 33 will ensure that Silicon Valley doesn’t destroy an entire workforce during its never-ending quest to move fast and break things.”