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Members of the Chicago-based artificial intelligence biotech lab Tempus AI negotiating committee recently convened at the William Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md., for an intensive preparatory session ahead of their negotiations with management. This critical gathering was a foundational step in equipping the team with the tools and strategies for successful bargaining.
At the heart of their negotiations are core issues vital to the well-being and prosperity of Tempus workers: establishing more robust safety standards, ensuring a healthy work-life balance, securing competitive pay and benefits, and advocating for more significant equity and transparency from Tempus management.
“There was a lot of information to absorb during our week at the Winpisinger Center. The knowledge shared by our peers and instructors through their personal experiences made it easy to understand because it was practical,” said Tempus AI Bargaining Committee Member Vincent Parra. “Hearing about the successes and obstacles of previous contract negotiations has inspired me. Knowing that others have been successful and that we have their support is motivating. The biggest takeaway from our week is a feeling of empowerment and confidence as we prepare to bargain our first contract.”
Earlier this year, nearly 400 lab workers at Tempus AI, one of the country’s leading cancer research laboratories utilizing artificial intelligence, voted to join the IAM. This historic decision marks them as one of the country’s first unions at AI-focused companies.
“We are standing at the precipice of a new era for labor in the technological sphere,” said Winpisinger Center Educational Representative Jon Irvine, a lead instructor for the Tempus unit. “This negotiation preparation class has been focused on equipping workers with knowledge and strategy, but most importantly, it’s about solidarity – understanding that as a united force, they can and will advocate for the respect, safety, and fairness that their work deserves.”
The IAM has thrown its full support behind the Tempus workers, recognizing the critical nature of this endeavor not just for its members but for the broader landscape of unionized labor in the United States.
“Joining the IAM was a monumental step for these workers,” said IAM Midwest Territory Grand Lodge Representative Bill LePinske. “They are at the forefront of technology, using AI to study diseased cells to improve cancer care. Yet, they believe that their work should not come at the expense of their rights and well-being. Through these negotiations, they aim to set a new standard for what workers can expect and demand in the tech industry.
“The IAM is proud to stand with the Tempus workers,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Their courage to organize and negotiate at the forefront of technological innovation underscores unions’ timeless relevance and necessity, even in industries we couldn’t have imagined a generation ago. Their success is a beacon for workers everywhere, showing that in unity there is strength, and together, we can shape a future that values labor alongside innovation.”
Negotiations between the Tempus AI workers and Tempus management are slated to begin at the end of summer, promising to be a landmark event in the evolution of labor relations within the biotech industry.
