Bernie Sanders and labor unions demand AI worker protections as $156 billion in data centers blocked

Bernie Sanders and Labor Unions Unite Against Unregulated Advancement of AI

Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a stark message to tech billionaires during a press conference Thursday, telling AI oligarchs to "go to hell" as he united with leaders from America's largest labor unions to demand stronger worker protections from AI 1

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. The Vermont senator was joined by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and National Education Association President Becky Pringle in a coordinated effort to sound the alarm on AI's impact on employment 3

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"AI and robotics are the most consequential and transformational technologies in the history of humanity," Sanders declared, warning that manufacturing jobs could cease to exist within a decade as tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison pursue automation strategies 1

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. The senator specifically targeted Musk's plans to build 100 million robots per year and Bezos' strategy to purchase and automate factories across the United States.

AI Risks for Workers Span Blue-Collar and White-Collar Jobs

The concerns about job displacement due to AI extend across both blue-collar workers and white-collar workers, with industry leaders making increasingly bold predictions about automation's reach. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman predicted that most white-collar work will be fully automated by AI within 12 to 18 months, while Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that as much as half of entry-level white-collar jobs could be eliminated 1

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"We are here to sound the alarms on AI," said Liz Shuler. "This race that everybody seems to think we're in to advance AI at all costs -- with no guardrails or protections for people -- is reckless and dangerous" 2

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. Shawn Fain drew parallels to NAFTA, comparing AI to the trade deal's "false promises of shared prosperity" and its role in decimating U.S. manufacturing jobs 3

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New graduates face particular challenges as AI tackles entry-level tasks. Palantir CEO Alex Karp bluntly stated that those with "generalized knowledge but it's not specific" are in trouble, highlighting how AI threatens traditional career entry points 1

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Growing Anti-Data Center Sentiment Blocks $156 Billion in Projects

The push for protections for the workforce coincides with surging anti-data center sentiment nationwide. Data Center Watch, a tracking website run by 10a Labs, reports that $156 billion in data center projects have been blocked in 2025 alone 1

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. Maine has become the first US state to pass a ban on new data center construction, while Virginia saw voter support for new data centers plummet from 69% in 2023 to 35% in 2026, leading to the abandonment of plans for one of the largest data centers ever conceived.

In Missouri, half of a city council lost reelection bids after approving a $6 billion data center, demonstrating the political consequences of supporting such projects 1

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. Multiple surveys underscore public concern: a Checkr survey found 79% of US workers worry that adopting AI will result in pay cuts, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll found 71% fear AI "putting too many people out of work permanently."

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez Push for Moratorium on AI Data Centers

In March, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez submitted legislation calling for a halt to data center construction and a pause on AI development to safeguard workers, energy prices, and public health 1

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. "We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy and the future of humanity," Sanders said, calling for a moratorium on AI data centers 1

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"How the hell do you go forward and throw millions of people out on the street without planning what's going to happen?" Sanders asked during Thursday's press conference 2

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. The senator acknowledged that robotics and AI could offer benefits but insisted on democratic oversight: "Does AI and robotics have some positive things? Yeah. How do we use it to improve human life and not just make Mr. Musk and his billionaire friends even richer?" 3

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The labor movement's strategy reflects both urgency and pragmatism. While Fain has advocated for a 32-hour work week—something certain AI advocates suggest could become reality—labor unions remain focused on ensuring workers benefit from technological change rather than being displaced by it 2

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. "Human beings have to come first in this equation, not an afterthought," Fain emphasized, arguing that "a handful of billionaires want all the profits" while "the working class has to get our fair share" 2

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. As Sanders noted, the contours of the emerging AI economy remain shapable, making this moment critical for establishing protections before automation accelerates further.