The Internet, Technology, The Gig Economy and the Future of Labor

The development of technology, including artificial intelligence, automation and platforms like UBER, Lyft, and Airbnb, are making trillions for the tech and media companies that now dominate the world. Growing marginalization of labor and complete deregulation now means that hundreds of thousands of workers are being forced to travel hundreds of miles to work on temp jobs as independent contractors. This threatens our environment here in the Bay Area and around the world.
This conference will look at how our economy is being transformed in the Bay Area, nationally and globally, and how it is affecting working people, including drivers, tech workers, and workers in other industries.
The new tech world is also allowing companies like Google and Apple, and the U.S. government to know every place you go, every purchase you make, and every word or text you use in communication. We will look at how workers and unions, with the public, can challenge this new reality.

SCHEDULE
10:00 AM Introduction:

10:15 AM
Keynote: Steve Hill: Journalist on Technology – by Skype

10:30 AM
Technology, Workers and Silicon Valley
Ruth Silver Taube: Workers’ Rights Clinic at the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center at the Santa Clara University School of Law, SEIU-USWW Worker For Tech Company
Karthik Ramanathan: Tech Workers
Rebeca Armendariz: Senior Community Political Organizer with SEIU USWW
Bob Emmett: SEIU-USWW  member and worker in high tech company in Silicon Valley
Dr.Larry Rose: Former Medical Director Cal-OSHA

12:00 Lunch

12:45 PM
The Futurists Are Worried
Todd Davies: Stanford University – Symbolic Systems Program; Center for the Study of Language and Information
Mehmet Bayran: LaborNet, Software, Exploitation and Automation of Tech Workers
Lisa Milos: CWA UPTE UCSF Medical Interpreter* (*for information only)

1:45 PM
UBER, Lyft, Taxi Workers, Deregulation and Independent Contractor
Richard Meghoo: President SF Taxi Workers Alliance
Peter Miller: Exec. SF Taxi Workers Alliance & SFLC delegate
Edward Escobar: The Alliance For Independent Workers

You can watch this presentation here.

2:45 PM
Technology, Social Platforms and Workers
Professor Anthony Hall: Lethridge University Use of Facebook In Political Frame-up

3:15 PM
Technology For Workers, Internationalism and Labor Solidarity From The Liverpool Dockers To The Global Labor Channel
John Parulis: LaborTech.net
Steve Zeltzer: LaborTech.net

4:00 PM Conference Closes
Sponsored by LaborTech.net, LaborNet.org

You can watch Professor Anthony Hall’s presentation here.