State, National Labor Leaders Call On Governor Newsom To Stand With Workers, Not Billionaires, On AI

Release Date: February 4, 2026

Media Contact: Shubhangi Domokos, [email protected], (916) 934-6963

State, National Labor Leaders Call On Governor Newsom To Stand With Workers, Not Billionaires, On AI

Labor leaders from key 2028 presidential primary states joined the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO in its call

Sacramento, CA - (Wednesday, February 4, 2026) - The California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO on Wednesday, along with the national AFL-CIO and the state labor federations for Georgia, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina, sent a resounding message to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and every other politician considering running for president in 2028: Stand with working people over billionaires, and fight for common-sense guardrails for artificial intelligence.

Joining President Lorena Gonzalez of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO on Wednesday were National President Liz Shuler of the AFL-CIO, President Yvonne T. Brooks of the Georgia AFL-CIO, President Charlie Wishman of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Susie Martinez of the Nevada State AFL-CIO and President Braxton Winston II of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO, as well as President Chris Hannan of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

California is at the cutting edge of technology adaptation and the artificial intelligence revolution. And so it falls to California to lead the nation, not just in innovation, but in achieving protections for workers against the worst excesses of AI. Whether it is Big Tech surveillance of workers or outright job replacement, these state and national leaders showed a united front in calling on Gov. Newsom and other potential 2028 candidates to work with Labor on this critical issue affecting workers in every sectors.

"I'm frustrated with a governor who's more interested in his Big Tech billionaire friends than working people," said Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions. "It's time to bring workers and their representatives to the table."

"The decisions that we are making right now on A.I. are going to shape the next 50 years," said national AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. "We're demanding our politicians do what 80% of Americans want you to do: Pass common-sense guardrails. Protect working people. Bring us to the table NOW, not after the fact. The labor movement and working people across this country are watching, and we demand real leadership."

"As Labor, it is our job to make sure that you understand unintended consequences. And to this governor, if you're not understanding the unintended consequences for this state, you can't understand the ones that happen in my state," said Yvonne Brooks, President of the Georgia AFL-CIO.

"We have fought this fight over and over. We as workers know what success actually looks like. My question for Governor Newsom is, 'What does success look like when it comes to the development of AI for you?' Because from your actions, not your platitudes, those of us around the nation only deduce that it's whatever the tech industry and your donors want," said Charlie Wishman, President of the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.

"Gov. Newsom, we are here to let you know that we are not going to take it," said Susie Martinez, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO."Listen up. We are the working people. We are the ones that work every single day, and this is unacceptable."

"Look, I welcome Governor Newsom. Come on down to North Carolina and get yourself some barbecue and sweet tea, come experience the mountains of western North Carolina, the beaches of the Outer Banks, but rest assured that if you come to North Carolina, you're going to have to meet and reckon with workers," said Braxton Winston, President of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO.

"Union members' anxiety on AI isn't just an issue of new technology and changes to the nature of work - it's an example of Big Tech billionaires continuing to reap profits off the backs of working people," said Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. "Advances in productivity cannot be a trade-off for workers' privacy or job security. States like California and Massachusetts have a real opportunity to lead on a worker-first framework and counter the Big Tech-fueled corruption and privatization coming out of Washington."

Wednesday's press conference sent a strong message that no matter where Governor Newsom goes in this country, working people will expect him to step up and take action on the existential threat to workers that is AI.

For more information, or to set up an interview with Lorena Gonzalez to discuss Labor's fight against Big Tech billionaires on behalf of working people, please contact Shubhangi Domokos, [email protected].

The California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO represents over 1,300 affiliated unions in California with over 2.3 million union members in trucking, retail, hospitality, janitorial, construction, health care, local and state government, education, arts and entertainment, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing, and a variety of other sectors.

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