“We’ve seen a robotic concierge, robotic cooks that can make burgers, delivery robots that can go up to rooms, (robotic) bartenders … so we know automation technology is here,” said Bethany Khan, the union’s director of communications and digital strategy. “We want to make sure Culinary Union members are protected, that they have a say in how technology is implemented in their jobs.”
Khan says the union is focused on developing contracts that protect job retention and ensure employees know about automated technology before it’s introduced. The union also calls for the retraining of members to learn new technology.