The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and automation is reshaping industries across the United States, with unionized jobs—long considered the backbone of stable employment—now facing unprecedented threats. UPS, one of the largest logistics companies in the country, is accelerating this trend through its “Network of the Future” initiative. Designed to modernize its operations, this initiative includes the closure and remodeling of facilities to integrate automation, leading to significant job losses. Thousands of workers across locations in Colorado, Oklahoma, California, and Oregon have already been affected.
One of the most striking examples is the planned closure of UPS’s Swan Island hub in Portland, Oregon, set to take place next summer. The facility, previously one of the largest in the region, will reopen as an automated hub employing only a fraction of its current workforce. Automation technologies already in use are estimated to reduce warehouse jobs by as much as 80%, underscoring the devastating impact on workers who have long relied on these positions for economic stability.
The backlash against these changes has been compounded by worker dissatisfaction with union leadership. Many believe that recent labor contracts have failed to protect jobs from the encroachment of AI and automation. Last year’s agreement, widely promoted as a historic win for workers, did little to address these concerns. The absence of meaningful protections has left workers vulnerable as companies push forward with automation plans to cut labor costs and maximize shareholder returns.
Similar struggles are unfolding in other industries. Dockworkers at ports across the country, represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association, recently sought guarantees against automation during contract negotiations but were unsuccessful. The increasing use of robotic loaders and automated cranes threatens to displace thousands of workers in an industry that has historically provided reliable, well-paying jobs.
Workers still question how a mess like this can be automated. The broader implications of automation extend far beyond UPS and the docks. Part-time workers earning entry-level wages often aspire to higher-paying positions, but the path to advancement is becoming narrower. Even those earning six-figure salaries find it difficult to afford homes or provide for their families in the current economic climate. Meanwhile, companies are increasing their reliance on temporary workers who are ineligible for benefits, further undermining the stability of the workforce.
Automation is also deepening economic inequality. As corporations eliminate jobs to reduce costs, the resulting profits are rarely reinvested in the communities affected. Instead, they are funneled to shareholders and executives. This dynamic leaves workers facing an uncertain future, with limited opportunities for retraining or alternative employment.
These challenges highlight a growing tension between technological progress and the preservation of human labor. For decades, unions played a critical role in securing fair wages and working conditions, but their influence has diminished in the face of corporate power and automation. The failure to include safeguards against job displacement in recent labor agreements reflects this shift, leaving workers increasingly vulnerable.
As industries continue to embrace automation, the need for stronger worker protections becomes more urgent. Without meaningful action, the last remaining union jobs in America risk being replaced by machines, creating an economy where human labor is no longer prioritized. This trend threatens not only individual livelihoods but also the social fabric of communities that have long depended on these jobs for stability and growth. The days of a fair wage for an honest days work are quickly disappearing from the US economy.
