Robot Worries Could Cause a 50,000-Worker Strike in Las Vegas (technologyreview.com)

Thousands of unionized hotel and casino workers in Las Vegas are ready to go on strike for the first time in more than three decades. From a report: Members of the Culinary Union, who work in many of the city's biggest casinos, have voted to approve a strike unless a deal is reached soon. Some background: On June 1, the contracts of 50,000 union workers expire, making them eligible to strike. Employees range from bartenders to guest room attendants. The last casino worker strike, in 1984, lasted 67 days and cost more than $1 million a day. Why? Higher wages, naturally. But the workers are also looking for better job security, especially from robots. "We support innovations that improve jobs, but we oppose automation when it only destroys jobs," says Geoconda Arguello-Kline, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union. "Our industry must innovate without losing the human touch."

Comments

Right to strike

[fluffernutter]

I fully support their right to strike since it is the only mechanism the 'common worker' has to defend themselves and ensure they get a reasonable slice of the pie. However, this is probably something that cannot be stopped.

Re:Point?

[MightyYar]

Please come back with a better solution

Clearly we need a law to prevent the use of productivity enhancing technology. I can't fathom a world where productivity leads to an improved standard of living for everyone. Imagine if farming were mechanized, making food less expensive so that people could pursue a career making things in cities. Then those same people could spend this newfound wealth and free time on vacation at a gambling resort in the middle of the desert, creating thousands of new jobs in the hospitality industry. Stupid, huh? Who the hell would want to go to the desert? We can dream.