Unions Demand Worker Protections Amidst AI Job Displacement fears
Following the proclamation of notable job losses attributed to AI automation, Australian unions are calling for mandatory worker consultation and protections before new technologies are implemented in workplaces.
the Finance Sector Union (FSU) stated that the integration of new technologies must be a collaborative effort with employees, not a means to replace them. “There is a human cost to this. you can’t just replace frontline jobs with a voice bot and expect the same service for customers,” said FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) plans to use an upcoming Economic Reform Roundtable to advocate for new, enforceable agreements. These agreements would require employers to consult with staff before introducing AI technologies.Key provisions would include guarantees for job security, investment in skills development and retraining, transparency regarding technology use, and robust protections for privacy and data collection.
“We can realize the potential productivity benefits of AI while protecting the Australian fair go in the AI age,” stated ACTU assistant secretary Joseph Mitchell. “But we can’t wish away the major disruptions and social risks that the bad use of AI and other new tech poses, through massive job losses and the theft of creative and intellectual property by big tech companies.”
The call for these protections comes as the nation grapples with the evolving landscape of work in the face of rapid technological advancement.