Home / Business and Economy / AI or Union Busting? TikTok Layoffs Spark UK Row
AI or Union Busting? TikTok Layoffs Spark UK Row
16 Jan
Summary
- UK moderators unionizing were laid off before Christmas.
- TikTok claims layoffs were AI restructuring, not union-busting.
- Workers sought better protections against traumatic content.
In the United Kingdom, approximately 400 TikTok content moderators have filed a legal claim alleging unfair dismissal and violations of trade union laws. These workers were laid off just weeks before a scheduled vote to establish a collective bargaining unit. They stated their desire for improved protections against the psychological toll of rapidly processing disturbing online content.
TikTok has refuted the union-busting accusations, describing them as "baseless." The company asserted that the layoffs were a consequence of a restructuring initiative driven by the adoption of artificial intelligence for content moderation. Management indicated that AI now automatically removes over 90 percent of transgressive material.
Communication Workers Union (CWU) officials described the moderators' role as "the most dangerous job on the internet," citing exposure to extreme content and high-pressure conditions. They argue that the timing of the layoffs, coinciding with union organizing efforts, points to corporate greed overriding worker and public safety.
