UPDATES: What we’re seeing impact workers from the government shutdown to union-busting to AI
OCTOBER 29, 2025 | TEAM COWORKER
Forget Big Brother. It’s the startups silently watching workers now.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the future of work, a new form of digital oversight is spreading quietly and rapidly across the globe—not from Big Tech, but from a sprawling network of lesser-known startups, regional vendors, and HR software providers. Little Tech Goes Global: The Expansion of AI and Workplace Surveillance, a new report by Coworker.org, exposes how this "Little Tech" ecosystem is embedding surveillance and algorithmic control into the daily lives of workers—often without their knowledge, consent, or protection.
Building on our 2020 research, this report maps the global rise of algorithmic management across six countries—Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, and India—where legal frameworks are either outdated, poorly enforced, or nonexistent. From gig workers tracked through facial recognition and GPS to sanitation workers fined for resting while wearing “wellness” devices, the report reveals how venture capital-backed startups are exporting surveillance tech to the Global South, targeting regions with weaker privacy protections and regulatory oversight.
This is not a far-off problem. It’s happening now—in your city, your job, and perhaps your own devices.
Workers Impacted by the Government Shutdown
The month-long government shutdown has wreaked havoc on the country, and many workers are suffering.
An estimated 1.4 million federal workers did not receive their last paycheck because of the shutdown. Tens of millions of working people in communities across the country, our neighbors, won’t receive their SNAP benefits if the shutdown doesn’t end by 11/1 and no emergency funding is released. So many workers and others who were already struggling will now have less money for food, housing, medications, and so much more due to this shutdown.
Some state governments are now scrambling to find stopgap measures to help some people losing paychecks and benefits.
Attempted Mass Firings at CDC and Department of Education
Amidst the government shutdown, the Trump administration tried to fire over 1,000 federal workers at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Education.
Those targeted at the CDC include staff that reports on work to Congress, administers grants, and maintains critical scientific CDC research and resources. At the Department of Education, the administration aimed to gut the offices working on special education and civil rights enforcement.
AFGE, the union representing many of these workers, called the firings an “unlawful abuse of power.” Days later, the courts agreed halting the firings. And this week, a federal court extended its order barring the firings while litigation filed by unions proceeds. We know this isn’t the end of the story, and we will keep you updated as this fight unfolds.
Starbucks Workers Ready To Strike
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is ignoring the demands of Starbucks workers for fair pay and good working conditions. So, Starbucks Workers United are ready to strike if ultra-rich executives continue refusing to come to the bargaining table. Baristas are voting now on authorizing a strike and leading rallies across the country through 11/1.
This comes after Starbucks announced it would shutter hundreds of its North American stores and layoff workers. Unionized baristas responded with protests. They said the company has only gone backwards since ultra-wealthy CEO Brian Niccol took over.
Investors even wrote to the Starbucks Board of Directors with concern about the corporation’s sustainability given the company’s treatment of employees "as evidenced by more than one hundred Unfair Labor Practice complaints filed this year, worker protests, and threats to strike."
You can read more about the unionized Starbucks workers’ fight and pledge to back workers if they strike.
Unionization Push at Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo workers have won union votes at 30 branches since 2023 as Wells Fargo Workers United (WFWU) makes a serious push to bring organized labor to one of the least unionized industries in America: banking.
Wells Fargo executives haven’t been receptive to their workers fighting for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. 15 U.S. Senators recently wrote to the Wells Fargo CEO demanding an end to union-busting tactics, citing concerns about the company’s “anti-union activity, refusal to bargain in good faith with unionized workers, and alleged unlawful conduct with respect to worker organizing efforts.” WFWU reported that executives were eavesdropping on bargaining efforts.
This is an all-too-familiar union-busting playbook. It will be critical for all of us to keep our eyes on Wells Fargo as WFWU union organizing heats up across the country. You can learn more about WFWU here.
AI and Workers
Despite humanity’s collective concerns about the dangers of AI, corporations are rushing to adopt, integrate, and ramp up artificial intelligence tech across their businesses.
A recent report in the Harvard Business Review catalogues how subpar work output from AI is actually destroying productivity. They call it “AI workslop” and point to how AI is failing in workplaces across industries, and making jobs more difficult for actual workers.
Experts are collectively warning that corporate embrace of AI tech could very well lead to increasingly mediocre products and services. As companies continue to attempt to cut labor costs by deploying AI slop tools, we must protect workers and working conditions!
Our Take
Worker power is one of our strongest collective assets for fighting back against corporate greed. We see that in the years-long struggle of Starbucks and Wells Fargo workers against ultra-rich executives. We see that all over the country, as workers fight for unions and fair contracts. We see that as workers and communities band together to address the loss of paychecks and benefits due to the government shutdown.
Corporations and their CEOs won’t slow their chase after maximum profits at the expense of workers. We, in turn, cannot slow our organizing for better workplaces.
Keep watching, keep organizing, and we'll keep you updated.