This question is intended to be an offshoot of the other post about FedEx testing single pilot flight, however, I felt the topic was deserving of its own post and discussion.

Do any of the unions at cargo/ACMIs have any contractual protections for automation eventually reducing the pilot workforce??? Does any place have it written into the contract what happens (ei guaranteed income or retirement benefits) if jobs are replaced/eliminated by machines?

I'm sure someone will slam me and will post how it will NEVER happen , but reducing pilots on augmented crews, then single pilot, and eventually, fully automated flight WILL happen. I personally doubt fully pilotless will happen in the span of any of our careers, but nobody on here holds the crystal ball. Those of us with 30-35+ years left in the industry need to plan for the contingency that we will likely see a significant reduction of force that will negatively effect our careers at some point prior to age 65. That will happen at cargo long before we see it in pax flying. Pilotless may seem crazy right now, however, a LOT can happen with technology over the next 20-25-30 years. I could see some of the long-haul over water stuff going pilotless in the years I have left, and as we know those are typically the most lucrative routes and can maximize days off. If those routes suddenly disappear, that could definitely change the landscape of what those final years of our careers will look like. Combine that with the plot force being halved by single pilot and/reduced crews, and our relative spot on the seniority list can be quite a bit different than many are hoping and planning for.

The article referenced in the other post:

https://theaircurrent.com/technology/fedex-and-sikorsky-quietly-begin-single-pilot-tests-for-cargo-airliners/