Teamsters and a coalition of unions convened on Beacon Hill in Boston to urge lawmakers to implement regulations for autonomous vehicle (AV) operators aiming to enter Massachusetts. The call for action occurred both at a rally outside the state house and during a hearing with the Massachusetts General Court Joint Committee on Transportation.
The Teamsters are advocating for the passage of bills S.2393/H.3669, which would mandate human operators in all AVs. They also urged legislators to reject bill S.2379/H.3634, supported by Waymo, which they argue could negatively impact workers.
Tom Mari, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Joint Council 10 and President of Teamsters Local 25, expressed concerns about the motives behind AV technology investments: “The only reason Waymo and other AV companies invest in this technology is so they can get rich by destroying the livelihoods of millions of workers.” He emphasized that elected officials should support middle-class interests by opposing the “Big Tech” bill and ensuring human presence in driverless vehicles.
Waymo’s expansion efforts are under scrutiny due to federal investigations, safety recalls, and numerous accidents nationwide. Steve South, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 25, voiced strong opposition: “Massachusetts is not a playground for Silicon Valley,” he said. “After today, I want to see Waymo turn around, drive right out of this state, and never come back.”
Similar legislative initiatives backed by Teamsters are underway in Oregon and Texas. Meanwhile, California has already passed legislation requiring human operators in commercial vehicles.
Teamsters Joint Council 10 represents over 50,000 union members across New England. More information is available at teamstersjointcouncil10.com.
