Union leaders cite safety concerns and call the crash involving a 5-year-old a wake-up call.
Leaders of Teamsters California said Monday that the California Public Utilities Commission should immediately suspend Waymo’s operating license following a crash, in which an autonomous Waymo vehicle struck a young child in Santa Monica outside of a school.
In a joint statement, Teamsters California co-chairs Peter Finn and Victor Mineros described the incident as a “horrifying wake-up call” for state officials, arguing that lawmakers and regulators have failed to address ongoing safety concerns tied to robotaxi operations.
The statement stated, “This incident is emblematic of the broader goal Big Tech companies have to replace skilled human labor with AI. They want to force millions of people into destitution by destroying their livelihoods, seize money that belongs to workers, and force our communities to reckon with the fallout of automation’s shortcomings. Robotaxis threaten workers’ jobs and are now terrorizing our kids.
The child was injured in the collision, although the first reports of the crash did not indicate that the child was injured, including Waymo’s statement.
Finn and Mineros said the crash shows what they called a growing pattern of warning signs surrounding autonomous vehicles. They called for Waymo’s permit to be revoked indefinitely while safety issues are reviewed.
Teamster’s California’s statement added, “Waymo vehicles have continued to illegally ignore school bus stop signs despite a company-wide software recall and another, separate NHTSA investigation. Parents, teachers, school workers, and community members have been demanding that these vehicles be kept away from school zones. Waymo and its parent company, Google, choose to ignore those warnings.
The union, which represents approximately 250,000 workers across California in a wide range of industries, said opposition to robotaxis extends beyond organized labor. According to the statement, community members across the state share concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles operating on public streets.
A federal investigation into the incident is now underway. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is leading the probe.
Waymo has not responded to the Teamsters’ statement.
