TikTok Employees in Berlin Demand Fair Compensation in Resistance to Alleged Job Cuts Due to AI Implementation
In a contentious standoff between TikTok and the German trade union ver.di, content moderators are demanding that the social media giant reconsider its plans to close their department in Germany, which could result in the layoff of 150 employees from the "trust and safety" team in Berlin.
The union has expressed concerns about the working conditions of content moderators, who are repeatedly exposed to psychologically stressful content such as violence, pornography, and hate speech. Verdi believes that these conditions can have serious health consequences, even leading to trauma. The union also fears that cost savings from outsourcing could lead to poorer pay and cuts in health prevention.
Protesters have focused on the phrase "we trained your machines, pay us what we deserve," emphasizing the role moderators have played in training the AI systems that may replace them. Employees believe they are entitled to compensation or recognition for their contributions to developing the company's automation tools.
TikTok has refused to negotiate with ver.di regarding these layoffs, prompting the union to prepare for potential strike action if the company continues to refuse dialogue. The union is also demanding fair compensation, transparency in communication, and the acknowledgement of risks to users if human moderation is replaced entirely by AI.
Meanwhile, TikTok has launched its e-commerce division "TikTok Shop" in Munich, Germany. The headquarters for this division is located in Munich, a city known for hosting other major international technology companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google.
As negotiations on a social tariff agreement have not been successful, Verdi has not ruled out a strike in the near future. The union emphasizes the importance of good working conditions and psychological support for content moderators, calling for a reversal of the layoff plans, open negotiations, and clear communication with staff regarding major decisions.
In summary, the affected TikTok employees and union ver.di are demanding that TikTok cease its layoff plans, provide fair compensation, enter negotiations, communicate transparently, and consider the potential risks to users if human moderation is replaced entirely by AI.
- Despite TikTok's launch of its e-commerce division "TikTok Shop" in Munich, technology that could potentially replace human moderators, the union ver.di and content moderators are advocating for a reversal of the layoff plans, fair compensation, open negotiations, and transparency in communication, emphasizing the use of technology should be of a kind used responsibly and with due considerations for the workforce and users.
- Verdi union is pushing for negotiations to address the proposed layoff of 150 "trust and safety" team members in Berlin, insisting on fair compensation and acknowledgement of the risks to users if human moderation is replaced entirely by AI technology, and questioning the cost savings from outsourcing that could lead to poorer pay and cuts in health prevention.
