{"slug": "california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions", "title": "California Labor Leader on AI Bills and Billionaire Tax Measure Splitting Unions", "summary": "Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Federation of Labor Unions, which represents more than 1,300 unions and 2.3 million workers, discussed the federation's AI policy priorities in Sacramento, including failed AI and data center bills and ongoing regulations, as well as a proposed ballot measure taxing California billionaires that has split the labor community despite the federation's endorsement.", "body_md": "# California Labor Leader on AI Bills and Billionaire Tax Measure Splitting Unions\n\nLorena Gonzalez heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, making her one of the most prominent voices for working people in the state. The group represents more than 1,300 unions and 2.3 million workers in sectors including manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, healthcare and entertainment.\n\nOne of the federation’s priorities in Sacramento this year is Artificial Intelligence policy. In the final days of the legislative session, Marisa sits down with Gonzalez to talk about the AI and data center bills that have failed, the ones still on the table and working with unions across the country on these regulations.\n\nThey also discuss the backroom negotiations behind a proposed ballot measure tax on California billionaires that has split the labor community. Despite the federation’s endorsement of the measure, Gonzalez said she’d prefer it not be on the ballot.\n\nCheck out [Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter](/newsletters/political-breakdown), delivered straight to your inbox.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions", "canonical_source": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2026/08/27/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions/", "published_at": "2026-08-27 23:05:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-27 23:20:30.066329+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy"], "entities": ["Lorena Gonzalez", "California Federation of Labor Unions"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions.jsonld"}}