Speaking to the annual Congress in Liverpool, Jane Jones – Usdaw President said: “The combination of the rapid development in artificial intelligence, as well as the increasing use of automated decision-making processes by employers are fundamentally changing the world of work as we know it. However, in light of the ever-growing use of these technologies, the protections offered to workers are increasingly being left behind.
 
“To truly safeguard our members from the risks of the tech revolution, we need to deliver a proper legal framework that focuses on the protection of workers' rights; gives workers a voice when new technologies are being introduced and delivers specific provisions on equality issues, providing real safeguards against discrimination.
 
“While the world of modern technology, generative AI and automated decision-making processes may seem complex, we should not forget to ensure that unions have the right to protect our members. As part of this, we need a greater focus on skills and development. An estimated nine-in-ten employees in the UK will need to retrain by 2030. This means retraining is essential when it comes to preparing for the future of work.
 
“Yet the Government refuses to recognise the urgency of the situation. In 2021, they scrapped the Union Learning Fund in England and despite widespread criticism they've continually failed to address huge flaws in the Apprenticeship Levy. This approach cannot continue. We need urgent fundamental reform of the Apprenticeship Levy, the reinstatement of the Union Learning Fund across England and proper recognition of the vital role that trade unions play, especially union learning reps, in supporting workers to retrain and develop new skills.
 
“Worryingly many of the roles with the lowest training rates are both lower paid and insecure jobs. For technology to benefit working people it must be accessible to all workers, which means the Government and employers need to act now, before it's too late.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 350,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion