Washington state lawmakers are set to revisit the possibility of requiring government employers to bargain with public sector unions over the adoption of artificial intelligence technology. House Bill 1622 aims to mandate this bargaining if AI affects wages or worker performance evaluations.
The bill, championed by Rep. Lisa Parshley, previously stalled in the Senate after initial support in the House. Opponents, including business groups and city officials, argued the measure would skew the balance of power and potentially delay workplace innovation.
‘Public sector bargaining covers wages, hours and working conditions and agencies are already required to bargain any change that touches those areas, but without legislation, that bargaining happens after implementation,’ said Washington State Labor Council President April Sims. ‘With legislation like House Bill 1622, it would happen before.’
A September directive from the state’s Office of Financial Management requires union-represented state employees six months’ notice of any use of generative AI if it ‘will result in a consequential change in employee wages, hours, or working conditions.’
The debate reflects a broader conversation about a federal versus state approach to regulating AI. While President Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to sue states that pass AI regulations, Washington state’s focus is on incorporating worker input into the process. This includes establishing human review for systems used in employment-related decisions.