The World's First Humanoid Robot Strike Just Ended — the Union Asked for a Veto Over the Robots and Settled for a Conversation
About This Episode
Hyundai and its South Korean union reached a tentative wage deal on 25 August, days after the automaker's first full-day strike in a decade. The union had demanded binding consent over any deployment of AI or humanoid robots on the line; it settled for a commitment to discuss employment whenever new automated systems arrive, and signed language agreeing the robots are essential to the company's survival. The robots in question — Boston Dynamics' Atlas — go first to Hyundai's non-union Metaplant in Georgia in 2028.
Our Take
The first union on earth to strike over humanoid robots asked for a veto and came away with a meeting invitation — and the robots go first to Georgia, where the workers never had a seat at all.
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