if you heard about the recent wave of theft from department stores like Target, it’s been theorized they wouldn’t have that if the stores had more staff, even if they weren’t working security. Many tech companies have gone way downhill after removing jobs they thought they could automate.

ah, yeah that makes sense to me, together with what another commenter said:

Because workers, and not just bosses, will get a say in where, when, and how technology is introduced. That’s what the Hollywood writers’ strike was largely about, and they won important restrictions on the use of AI, as did the screen actors guild.

together with

There’s a hidden price to AI, and companies see it when they’re forced into it more and more.

explains why an union can keep the management of companies from making short-sighted decisions.