Negotiations over pay are back on the table in the IT industry, with the round running through the regular collective bargaining process. Last year ended in a loud clash between the two sides, so memories of that fight are fresh. This time a new element sits over the discussions: artificial intelligence and its pull on bargaining power. The article's preview asks bluntly whether workers now hold worse cards thanks to AI. Employers can, at least on paper, point to automation when resisting raises. Union negotiators typically counter that skilled labor keeps its value no matter which tools arrive. Given how the previous round collapsed, friction can be expected to reappear early. Concrete demands and positions will surface once the formal sessions open.