Transformation in Workforce Skills: The Workforce Revolution for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, unions are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of work. Recognising the compressed adaptation timeframes necessitated by this transformation, they are advocating for more responsive approaches to workforce development.
One of the key strategies unions are employing is proactive involvement in discussions about AI adoption. They are negotiating safeguards to protect jobs and ensuring transparency in AI implementation. For instance, the Las Vegas Culinary Workers union secured advance notice and bargaining rights over AI introduction, while the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) negotiated agreements to discuss AI uses regularly.
Unions are also incorporating AI-specific provisions into collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) to ensure workers receive advance notice and have a say in new technology implementation. This includes provisions for job security, training, and compensation for AI-related changes.
Recognising the need for continuous learning, unions are emphasising the importance of AI-related training to address skill gaps and foster career growth. By advocating for workers' involvement in AI training programs, unions help mitigate job displacement risks and ensure workers can adapt to evolving technologies.
In addition, unions are advocating for worker protections, such as ensuring that AI does not replace jobs without adequate alternatives or compensation. For instance, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) negotiated a ban on fully automated technologies without human interaction.
Beyond the workplace, unions are pushing for stronger foundational digital literacy education, flexible, modular credential systems, expanded mid-career education access, greater recognition of non-traditional learning pathways, portable benefits systems, universal training entitlements, income support during career transitions, universal broadband access, community-based digital skills programs, technology access initiatives for underserved populations, public library modernization as digital learning centers, and public investment in digital inclusion.
The introduction of artificial intelligence into workplaces presents both opportunities and threats for workers. Unions are addressing these challenges by focusing on several key areas, including job security, ethical use of AI, legal and policy advocacy, and cross-training pathways.
In terms of opportunities, unions can facilitate inclusive digital transformation by ensuring AI benefits workers and enhances job quality. They can also serve as intermediaries between technology firms and workers to ensure balanced AI adoption. However, the pace of AI adoption is rapid, making timely engagement crucial. Many workers lack union representation, which can hinder their ability to influence AI-related decisions.
In summary, unions are actively shaping the future of work by advocating for worker rights, negotiating protective agreements, and facilitating training programs to ensure workers thrive alongside automation. They are securing commitments for ongoing professional development, including paid training time, education allowances for external skill development, internal mobility pathways for workers to transition to emerging roles, and early notification of changing skill requirements. Unions are also establishing clear boundaries on what employee data can be collected and how it can be used, transparency requirements about what monitoring systems are in place, limitations on productivity metrics that create unhealthy pressure or surveillance, and worker control over personal data generated during employment.
[1] "Unions and AI: Navigating the New Workplace" (2021). International Labour Organization. [2] "The Role of Unions in AI and Automation" (2020). Centre for Future Work. [3] "The TUC AI Bill: Ensuring Workers' Voices are Heard in AI Policy-Making" (2021). Trades Union Congress. [4] "Collective Bargaining Agreements and AI: A Case Study" (2020). Harvard Law School Labor and Worklife Program. [5] "The Digital Divide: Union Representation and AI Adoption" (2021). Economic Policy Institute.
- Unions are advocating for education and self-development in technology to address skill gaps and promote career growth, pushing for stronger foundational digital literacy education, flexible credential systems, and expanded mid-career education access.
- In education and self-development, unions are also urging for greater recognition of non-traditional learning pathways, portable benefits systems, universal training entitlements, income support during career transitions, and universal broadband access.
- In the realm of finance, unions are aiming to secure commitments for ongoing professional development, including paid training time, education allowances for external skill development, internal mobility pathways for workers to transition to emerging roles, and early notification of changing skill requirements.
- In relationships, unions are establishing clear boundaries on what employee data can be collected and how it can be used, transparency requirements about what monitoring systems are in place, limitations on productivity metrics that create unhealthy pressure or surveillance, and worker control over personal data generated during employment.
