AI Security Guards Vote to Authorize Strike
Security personnel providing services for AI companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Salesforce have voted to authorize a strike if necessary. The guards are employed by third-party security firms such as Allied Universal and Securitas. No strike has been declared yet; the outcome depends on ongoing labor negotiations.
Union Demands $30 Minimum Wage, Better Benefits
Talks between the union and employers have been underway for months. The SEIU-USWW union is demanding a minimum wage of $30 per hour, along with improved family health insurance, retirement benefits, and job security. According to the union, the employers' latest proposal offers only a total wage increase of 25 cents per hour over four years, with no raise in three of those years. The union represents about 14,000 security guards in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles County.
Anthropic Closes Office, Others Bolster Security
The labor dispute has already disrupted AI company operations. After receiving a strike notice from Allied Universal last week, Anthropic shut down its San Francisco office and moved employees to remote work. The vote to authorize a strike had not yet occurred at that time, but has now been completed. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have faced security threats against their employees in recent years, prompting tech companies to strengthen physical security measures.