Initially, union representatives requested new contractual language dictating that automation and semi-automation could not replace a single human worker. While the U.S. Maritime Alliance granted several other requests — including wage increases — this particular demand remains unmet.
This saga encapsulates the media perception surrounding labor and automation. They’re portrayed as opposed contingents, with robots often depicted as threatening the livelihood of the working class. In reality, labor and automation have always had a complex relationship, neither totally in opposition nor totally aligned, and that is likely to continue through 2025. The successful collaboration of robots and labor in the automotive manufacturing industry is instructive and reveals a path forward.
The perceived labor vs. automation debate is one of a few trends that will dominate the robotics industry in 2025. Next year, we’ll also hear much about the importance of human-robot collaboration, market consolidation and the fate of robotics foundation models (RFMs).
Leave a reply