New York Times accused of using AI to spy on union workers
Unionized New York Times employees filed legal complaints alleging management uses AI to surveil workers in violation of their collective bargaining agreement.
Members of both the New York Times Guild and the Times Tech Guild submitted two grievances alongside an unfair labor practice charge against the publication, according to New York Post. The workers allege the media outlet is using AI tools to spy on employees in direct violation of their collective bargaining agreement.
Benjamin Harnett, who chairs the Tech Guild’s generative AI committee and serves as a staff software engineer at the Times, said the AI surveillance represents a fundamental misunderstanding of journalistic and technical work. He argued that such monitoring creates a distorted and inaccurate assessment of member contributions.
Harnett explained that the work performed by Times employees requires human judgment, problem-solving abilities, and specialized skills that artificial intelligence cannot properly evaluate through proxy metrics and automated analysis.
The unions assert that Times management has repeatedly declined to provide the Tech Guild with information about the company’s AI deployment, despite federal law mandating that employers share information related to contract enforcement and collective bargaining negotiations.
According to the guild representatives, The New York Times has ignored three separate requests for information on the matter, as New York Post reports.
A spokeswoman for the newspaper disputed the unions’ characterization of events and stated the company would address the grievance through standard contractual procedures. She noted that The Times would respond to the information request in due course, just as it has handled more than 80 similar requests from the Guild in recent years.
The unions detailed their timeline of requests, with the first information demand sent on March 26, followed by additional requests on April 22 and a final notice on May 6. Union members are seeking comprehensive disclosure about current, past, planned, and contemplated AI usage, along with details about the technology’s impact on employee workflow and job functions.
The controversy unfolds as the Times Guild, representing over 1,500 workers in editorial, advertising sales, and support roles, negotiates for a new contract. Guild members assembled outside the New York Times building in Midtown Manhattan last week, demanding enhanced artificial intelligence protections and access to affordable health care.
Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York, filed a separate unfair labor practice charge on behalf of the Times Guild. She condemned what she called the unethical deployment of artificial programs by management against workers.
DeCarava stated that New York Times management has rejected both transparency and accountability regarding how artificial intelligence programs are being used against the workforce that contributes to the company’s success.
With information from New York Post
