Addressing delegates, Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary said: “There are few issues as important and as urgent as this one for our movement. The combination of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and the widespread use of automation in the workplace are fundamentally changing the nature of work. While AI may offer many opportunities and benefits, it also brings with it real and worrying risks to workers.
“Despite promises of more productive and more efficient workplaces, the reality is that new technology can often intensify work, putting new and unreasonable demands on workers. Now we see technology deciding who's hired and even who's fired. AI is being used to manage performance, it's being used to decide on people's working patterns and it's being used to make decisions on disciplinary action.
“It is already changing the employment landscape and there are more changes to come at a pace unlike anything we have known before, but as a society we are simply not preparing workers for the future. By 2035, an estimated seven million workers across England will lack the basic skills needed to do their jobs, and Usdaw's own research found that over half of workers don't have adequate training on the use of technology at work.
“The Government is taking action on training and skills development by reforming the Apprenticeship Levy through the new Growth and Skills Levy, as well as bringing forward a robust strategy for post-16 education. This is a step in the right direction, but beyond this we need proper workplace protections. We know that AI doesn't affect everyone equally; that is why we're calling for equality impact assessments with employers identifying who is unfairly impacted by AI and taking steps to mitigate those impacts. Because all workers deserve transparency, fairness, and protection.
“This Labour Government is already delivering on skills, and on employment rights, but as technology goes faster and further, our programme for change needs to go faster and further too. We must ensure that workers aren't left behind, we must ensure that every worker can benefit from changes in technology and we must secure the future of work for all.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 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
AI and the future world of work:
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion