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The Future of American Unions | Automate America

by | Aug 29, 2025 | Future of Manufacturing, Future of Professional Labor, Human Resources, Independent Contractors, Manufacturing | 0 comments

A skilled American tradesman on a jobsite, a symbol of the modern workforce and the future of labor

Labor Day and the Future of Labor: Every Skilled Professional Should Be in a Union

Labor Day is a time to honor the American worker and the unions that gave us weekends, fair pay, safer workplaces, and dignity on the job. Those battles mattered. Without yesterday’s unions, generations of workers would have been crushed under 16-hour days, unsafe factories, and exploitation. Every skilled professional today should be grateful for the sacrifices that were made to secure those victories. Find a List of the Greatest Union Battles at the end of this article.  

But that was then. This is now.

The American worker is facing a different kind of challenge. Outdated systems, corporate structures, and fragmentation prevent you from accessing every opportunity.  Good News – Today’s skilled worker isn’t voiceless, powerless, or invisible. Thanks to digital networks, with certifications and verified ratings, and customer reviews, professionals can showcase their expertise and availability directly to customers. A welder in Houston, a machinist in Cleveland, or a robotics technician in Detroit can prove their value and apply instantly to opportunities across North America.

The future is happening now: every skilled professional should be in a union—but not yesterday’s union. Tomorrow’s union. A new model built for the digital age. One that empowers individuals to operate as independent businesses, while still giving companies access to the best talent. A union that works for both sides by protecting workers, rewarding excellence, and strengthening American industry.

This Labor Day, we honor the past by building the future. The next evolution of organized labor is already here, and tens of thousands of skilled professionals across North America are proving it works. The question isn’t if you’ll join tomorrow’s union. It’s when.

Automate America: A Digital Network of 40,000 Skilled Trades and Engineers – United
Picture this: one massive labor hall, online, accessible 24/7. No barriers to entry. No dues. No gatekeepers. Just skilled American professionals working together and controlling the market. That’s what we’ve built at Automate America. Every legally authorized professional in the United States gets equal access to every opportunity.

And it doesn’t stop with independent contractors. Service companies that employ professionals participate in this “new union” the same way. A service firm can apply its available employees to projects just like an independent contractor applies his or her profile. By combining both labor markets—independent contractors and employees from hundreds of automation service and engineering firms—we make sure contracts get filled with the right talent almost every time. For manufacturers and integrators, we act as one supplier that provides instant access to tens of thousands of contractors and service companies, for free. Instead of calling ten firms to track down one specialized engineer, you get the whole market in one place.

This is about building a true B2B and B2C marketplace that serves everyone. Professionals gain the freedom to control their careers. Companies gain efficient access to expertise. Pay rates are no longer dictated by middlemen, but by skill, experience, location, and real market conditions.

  • Register Link: https://automateamerica.com/app/login
  • Post Work Link: https://automateamerica.com/app/automation_work_new/add

Supporting Every Stage of Professional Development

The future of networked marketplaces is supporting professionals throughout their entire career journey. Apprentices learning their trade, journeymen perfecting their craft, and semi-retired experts looking for flexible project work – everyone deserves representation and access to every opportunity.  Our platform facilitates onsite, remote, and hybrid positions because the future of work isn’t one-size-fits-all.

The skilled trades professionals of the future do not need bachelor’s or master’s degrees to become hugely successful in advanced automation today; you only need a 2-year tech degree, an appetite for self learning, and access to AI.

There is a list at the end of this article with links to the top – 2 year automation programs in each major manufacturing region of the US.

Real-World Application

Consider Greenville Steel in South Carolina, operating high-heat presses and welding processes in an environment with little ventilation and no air conditioning. Under our system, they wouldn’t be forced to change their operations by union demands. Instead, professionals would see verified reviews from previous workers, understand exactly what they’re signing up for, and receive compensation that reflects the demanding nature of the work. You get what you pay for – that’s the rule.  If your environment is dirty, unhealthy, or unsafe, that’s fine, but you are going to pay exponentially higher rates for professionals.

When the new union rolls into BMW Spartanburg, https://www.bmwgroup-werke.com/spartanburg/en.html it will not be a hostile situation. BMW will dramatically increase profits and efficiency through easier access to a massive pool of skilled workers without the middleman taking a cut of every hour they pay for labor.  HR departments will shrink dramatically, and profits will soar.  There are a lot of amazing, skilled professionals at BMW today; when they are used efficiently, everyone will benefit.

No Negotiation, Just Fair Market Rates

Here’s what makes our approach revolutionary: no negotiating. Companies post opportunities at rates they’re willing to pay (Automate America can help you with rates Email: Info@AutomateAmerica.com). Automate America broadcasts your opportunity to thousands of qualified and available professionals who can instantly click the hyperlink they are sent and apply, we are literally filling positions in minutes.  Professionals apply with their Automate America profile which also contains their ratings and reviews from previous customers.  The best candidate gets the job. Simple, transparent, efficient.  If no qualified applicants emerge, the rates are too low, and the company must increase the pay.

Most importantly, no negotiating labor rates..ever!  The labor market can’t become a race to the bottom, where the person willing to work the cheapest gets the contract; it must be the most qualified person willing and available to work for that rate.  This gives engineers the opportunity to build a reputation.  For example: Customer A post an entry-level contract for professionals with a two-year tech degree and no experience to program material handling robots for $15/hour for 3 Months with our team supporting your learning curve.  That’s a low rate, but a great opportunity for the professional to break the ice and start building reviews.  Next time he can apply to the $30/hour robot contract because he has “some” hands-on experience.  All of this while another customer is paying $150/hour plus expenses for a studio 5000 engineer who also knows Keyence CV-X vision software.  Both contracts are great for the network.

Building the Web 3 Future

Our first step has already begun, uniting all professionals on a free and fair Web 2 marketplace, AutomateAmerica.com. The final step is decentralizing everything onto a Web 3 application with zero gatekeepers. Blockchain technology will ensure transparent, immutable records of professional accomplishments and fair compensation practices.

This isn’t just about technology – it’s about freedom. Freedom for professionals to control their careers. Freedom for companies to find the expertise they need, when and where they need and for as long as required. Freedom for the market to determine fair compensation without artificial manipulation.

Excellence Through Work

This philosophy captures the essence of what we’re building. When we work together, the excellence achieved is multiplied.  Every skilled professional deserves the opportunity to demonstrate their excellence and be compensated fairly for it.  We are born to work together, not against each other.  When professionals and companies work together rather than in opposition, everyone benefits. The economy grows, innovation flourishes, and the American dream becomes achievable for more people.

Our platform embodies this philosophy. We’re building a collaborative marketplace where excellence is recognized, fairly compensated, and given the respect it deserves.

Training, Skills, and Growth

We don’t stop at finding work. The future union must also support lifelong growth. Whether it’s apprentices starting out, journeymen mastering a trade, or semi-retired pros keeping a hand in the game, training matters.

Two resources worth your time:

A Personal Thank You this Labor Day
Thank you for taking the time to read this vision of the future. I hope you’ve found actionable insights that will help advance your career or improve your business operations. This isn’t just theory—we’re building this system right now, and it’s already changing lives for thousands of professionals across America. 3,428 contracts completed, but we need everyone to join to maximize the network effect. Even if you’re just curious, or maybe you’ve got some PTO coming up and want to take on a week-long project, jump in at any time. You don’t need to be incorporated to start. Retire early and still work when you want. Once you’re registered, don’t hesitate to apply to any project you’re confident you can deliver.

At Automate America, we currently network over 40,000 skilled professionals and are growing rapidly. If you believe in this mission—or if you simply want to expand your network and access more opportunities—register today. Companies looking to post work opportunities can get started immediately.

This Labor Day, as we honor the generations of workers and labor unions who built the foundation of America, let’s also commit to building the next chapter of labor together. The future of professional work is here. It’s digital, it’s fair, and it’s built for skilled professionals who demand excellence from themselves and their careers. It’s built for companies that understand the value of on-demand expertise and the efficient use of labor.

The past gave us the dignity of work. The future will give us the freedom of choice. Let’s celebrate both.

If you have any ideas of how to make the new union better, please leave a comment. We want to build this together, and we need your ideas and feedback.

  • Register Link: https://automateamerica.com/app/login
  • Post Work Link: https://automateamerica.com/app/automation_work_new/add

Tony Wallace
Co-Founder, Automate America

Info@AutomateAmerica.com

Text:  586-770-8083

 

List of 2 Year Tech Schools in each Manufacturing State to help you get started in Automation and Advanced Manufacturing. 

South Carolina

Michigan

Ohio

Kentucky

Illinois

Wisconsin

Tennessee

North Carolina

Indiana

Missouri

Kansas

California

Texas

Georgia

Alabama

 

The Great American Union Battles!

 

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