The services union Verdi has announced another warning strike at TikTok in Berlin. Employees of the video platform will walk off the job for four days starting next Tuesday, Verdi said on Friday. The strike is intended to protest TikTok’s refusal to negotiate over layoffs affecting employees whose work is expected to be partially replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Verdi, TikTok plans to use AI to carry out content moderation in the future or outsource it to third-party providers. Employees of the non-German-language live division are also expected to be dismissed; they are responsible for maintaining relationships with content creators, the people who upload videos to TikTok.
The union is demanding severance payments equal to three years’ salary for each employee affected by layoffs, as well as a 12-month extension of the notice period. The dispute is scheduled to be heard at the Berlin Labor Court next Thursday. Verdi also announced a demonstration in front of the court.
The union emphasized that the conflict with TikTok over layoffs is about fundamental issues. “We want the tech giants to take responsibility for the social consequences of artificial intelligence,” said Lucas Krentel of Verdi.
“If in the future low-paid workers and algorithms are supposed to keep TikTok free of fake news and violence, then technological progress will come at the expense of employees and the democratic public.” He stressed that TikTok must not be allowed to push ahead with its plans unchecked.
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