Illinois Unions Rally Against Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Bill as Tech Giants Push for Driverless Roads

Illinois unions announced plans to block state legislation that would legalize autonomous vehicles, arguing the bill threatens worker jobs and public safety. The autonomous vehicle bill has been held up in committee as lawmakers try to address constituent concerns over safety, insurance, and employment for rideshare and taxi drivers.

On Tuesday morning at the Illinois State Capitol, Teamsters and other labor unions affiliated with the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation held a press conference to announce a new partnership to stop the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act. The legislation, backed by Big Tech companies like Waymo, would allow autonomous vehicles to operate on Illinois roads within three years.

The press conference featured union members holding signs reading People Over Robots, Driverless is Dangerous, Safety Before Profits, and AI Does Not Vote We Do. Tom Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25, joined Teamsters Local 727 members and representatives from the Illinois AFL-CIL and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 to voice opposition to the bill.

The bill seeks to open counties with over one million residents to automated commercial vehicles, plus Sangamon, Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties. But the legislation currently sits in the Rules Committee, an early step in the legislative process that means it is far from passage.

Rep. Kam Buckner, a Democratic representative from Chicago who introduced the bill in January, acknowledged the concerns about safety, insurance, and job losses. He said the legislation has a long road ahead to address constituent concerns. Buckner described the process as still in the negotiation phase, walking and talking through the issues and trying to find a version of the bill that works for everybody.

Waymo has begun testing its automated vehicles in downtown Chicago with safety drivers. The company has not yet announced plans to expand beyond Cook County. According to Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli, the company drives over four million miles every week and has faced multiple federal investigations for traffic violations.

Company vehicles have made headlines for blocking emergency vehicles and hitting a child near an elementary school. Bonelli stated the company is committed to continuous improvement and that its entire fleet can learn from events to continue making roads safer. According to company data, Waymo vehicles are involved in 92 percent fewer crashes with serious injuries compared to an average human driver in the same city.

Labor unions argue automation will threaten the estimated 100,000 rideshare drivers and other labor jobs across the state. Ronnie Gonzalez, a representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said technology has been replacing workers throughout the industrial revolution and has only sped up in recent decades.

Gonzonalez, whose association is part of the Illinois Drivers Alliance coalition of thousands of rideshare drivers fighting for unionization, emphasized that having a seat at the table for legislation that implements autonomous vehicles responsibly and mindfully of workers and safety is what labor is pushing for.

Marc Poulos, executive director of labor management operations at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, said Waymo operations are just a step toward further automation of labor jobs. He warned that the impact extends beyond driverless taxis to affect industries like operating engineers and Teamsters.

Poulos stated that every time society moves to a technological advancement, it must consider what that means for the overall economy. He compared the situation to elevator operators, noting that by the 1970s elevators no longer had operators and people just punched a button. He asked whether that section of the population starved to death as a result.

The bill would allow autonomous vehicles to operate in counties with over one million residents, plus Sangamon, Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties. The legislation does not address insurance requirements or liability concerns.

Tim Cavanagh, president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, has spoken out about the need for adequate insurance to cover any injuries or damage involving autonomous vehicles. He stated the current legislation does not speak to financial responsibility and argued that minimums should be far higher for autonomous vehicles than for individuals.

Josh Witkowski, president of the Illinois motorcyclist rights organization ABATE, has voiced strong opposition to autonomous vehicle deployment in the state because of the risk they pose to motorcycles. He points to icy conditions and low visibility in Illinois, as well as poorly lit roads and street markings downstate as challenges for autonomous vehicle technology, which relies on cameras and sensors to safely navigate roadways.

Waymo has faced questions over its ability to handle Illinois weather conditions. A subsidiary of Alphabet, Waymo currently only fully operates in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas warm weather states where concerns about handling icy conditions are not as big an issue.

In response to weather concerns, Bonelli stated that Waymo already serves cities that receive annual snow with freezing temperatures. The company has proven it can generalize to new cities and environments.

P.S. Sriraj, director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, outlined a host of challenges for autonomous vehicle safety in the state. He believes the vehicles eventually will become part of life here and that state officials should look for ways to implement new automation responsibly.

Sriraj noted that the public benefit of autonomous vehicles includes widening options for people who live in areas where there are few rideshare drivers or taxis. People with mental or physical disabilities around the state could greatly benefit from autonomous vehicles.

He stated that all of the mobility needs of a population are so diverse that these types of technological advancements could play a role. But he also understands there are real concerns about safety, especially if autonomous vehicles are to be allowed in smaller towns and counties.

Rep. Brad Stephens, a Republican who is also the mayor of suburban Rosemont, introduced his own autonomous vehicle bill last spring. He sees a bright future for autonomous vehicles in Illinois but acknowledged that it might not pass this legislative session.

Stephens stated it is going to be a challenging two-and-a-half-month session with a lot of other issues to address.

Polling of Illinois voters shows they overwhelmingly oppose fully driverless cars and trucks operating on the state roads. In recent months, multiple states have canceled or postponed plans to expand autonomous vehicle legalization, including Minnesota, New York, Virginia, Washington, and Washington DC.

The union press conference is scheduled for Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT in the Blue Room at the Illinois State Capitol. Union members will be chanting and holding signs opposing the autonomous vehicle legislation.

The press conference marks the coalition second initiative, following last year success in saving Illinois public transit system. The autonomous vehicle bill has a long road ahead before legalization can occur and currently is held up in committee.