Webinar Series on AI for Union Leaders

The Penn State Learning Collaborative on Artificial Intelligence (Al) for Union Leaders will hold a Webinal Series in Fall 2026. Individual webinars on Al for all Union Leaders and on Al for Healthcare Union Leaders will be held. Please check back to this webpage in August 2026 to see the Fall schedule for Al webinars.

All Healthcare Union Leaders and Activists Need to Know About Al

Al is quickly being introduced in virtually all U.S. industries. Most employers see Al almost solely as a way to cut jobs and reduce labor costs. Many Al experts, however, believe Al has the potential to both enhance productivity and improve workers’ experience at work.

Al can enhance workers experience at work by automating routine tasks, optimizing work processes to reduce burnout, and streamlining administrative processes. To ensure Al is introduced as more than a way to cut jobs, unions need a voice in its implementation.

Penn State’s Webinar Series on Al is intended to help union leaders and activists:

• Better understand the various Al tools that are being implemented in workplaces.
• Learn how unions can use their power to make sure Al tools are used to create a better workplace for workers.
• Become aware of how unions are using their power to make sure Al benefits workers and how they are dealing with Al issues in bargaining and I the legislative arena.

Past Webinars

Understanding How AI is Being Used–and Can Be Used–To Improve Patient Care and Working Conditions for Healthcare Staff

Thursday October 23, 2025, 4:00–5:30 p.m. (EST)

Featured Speakers

• Jodi Forlizzi, Professor, Carnegie-Mellon University
• Nicholas Eng, Secretary, Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP)

How AI is Impacting Nurses, Doctors, and Techs and What Unions are Doing to Prepare

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 4:00–5:30 p.m. (EST)

Featured Speakers

• Tamara Lefcowitz, United Steelworkers
• Silas Russell SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania
• Nirav R. Shah, MD, MPH, Stanford University’s School of Medicine

Webinar #3

April 8, 2026, 4:00-5:30 p.m. (EST)

Bargaining to protect workers from the misuse of AI and what can we learn from the AI Microsoft/AFT partnership?

Feature Speakers

• Ben Begleiter, Deputy Director of Research, UNITE HERE

• Steve Catanese, President.SEIU Local 668

• Jodi Forlizzi, Professor of Computer Science, Carnegie-Mellon University  

• Lisa Kresge, Senior Researcher, University of California, Berkeley Labor Center

• Tamara Lefcowitz, Coordinator, Health Care Workers Council, United Steelworkers                           

• Michelle Miller, Director of Innovation, Center for a Just Economy, Harvard University                            

• Silas Russell, Executive Vice President, Policy and Research, SEIU Healthcare PA

• Joe Schleuss, President, The News Guild, Communications Workers of America

• Crystal Weise, AFL-CIO Tech Institute           

• Rob Weil, CEO, National Academy for AI Instruction, American Federation of Teachers

• Bryan Wynn, National Bargaining Director, United Food and Commercial Workers