The
company is partnering with two local San Francisco union
chapters that represent electrical workers and janitors, the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6 and
Service Employees International Union Local 87. Reuters could
not definitively determine if these are the driverless car
industry’s first union agreements.
The agreement will employ “dozens” of workers who will construct
and staff Cruise’s car-charging facilities, the company said.
"Cruise is creating new job opportunities for our members and
providing valuable on-site experience for our apprentices,” said
John Doherty, IBEW Local 6's business manager.
In the past, unions have eyed technology warily as increased
automation has allowed companies to reduce worker counts. In the
auto sector, the United Auto Workers union has voiced concern
about potential job losses resulting from the shift to electric
vehicles and it has made job security a top priority in the
ongoing labor negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers,
including GM.
Cruise, which offers limited service in San Francisco with a
fleet of Chevrolet Bolts fitted with driverless technology, has
accumulated over 3 million driverless miles, the company said.
Its rival, Alphabet Inc's <GOOGL.O> self-driving technology unit
Waymo, also offers limited service in San Francisco.
Both Cruise and Waymo are trying to expand their services to
paying customers throughout San Francisco, but are facing
backlash from city officials, who cite a rising number of
robotaxi incidents. California’s Public Utilities Commission,
which has jurisdiction over robotaxi regulation, has called into
question the city’s data analysis and scheduled a vote for Aug.
10 to approve its own draft proposal to allow the robotaxis to
continue widespread testing on city streets.
Last month, U.S. regulators said they will soon decide on a
February 2022 petition filed by Cruise seeking permission to
deploy up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles annually without human
controls such as a steering wheel, a top auto safety official
said on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie
Adler)
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