In order to provide a dignified living for a large number of people, wage earners need to take over decision-making in production.
Under the current organization, automation and "labor-saving" means more profit for the owners while the mass of people struggle with unemployment, poor education and poverty.
If workers made decisions about their own workplaces, labor saving could actually mean less labor without a reduction in wages. Or the surplus profit could be directed to benefits like higher education for the workers.
The classic union model has been successful to a point, but has often suppressed by police violence or legal machinations. While I support unions wholeheartedly, I also think new organizations should be started on a democratic, cooperative model. That way the problems of equity are solved upfront, rather than trying to expropriate powerful elites after they've gathered up the profit.
As the power of cooperative enterprises grow, workers will be in a position to directly antagonize traditional businesses. Some means include consumer boycotts, workers refusing to work for anti-democratic organizations, and pressuring the state for favorable legislation.
This is a long struggle, but I think the alternative is roughly what Gates described: Meager wages, extraordinary unemployment, and Oligarchy.