Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “The world of work and everyday life continue to dramatically change, and the pace and scale of this change is set to accelerate. Disabled workers are disproportionately affected by technological advancement. If designed in consultation with disabled people, technology has the potential to dismantle barriers; however when they are excluded, it can reinforce existing and create new obstacles, further marginalising disabled workers.
“There is a sharp contrast between the benefits of new technologies at an individual level and the risks they poses to disabled people in the workplace and wider society. Unless unions, and specifically disabled workers, are properly consulted about the development, application and implementation of new technologies in the workplace, including AI, disabled workers will continue to be discriminated against and excluded.”
Usdaw congratulates the TUC on the launch of their AI Bill projects and calls on the Government, policymakers and employers to:
- Ensure all decisions regarding new technologies include disabled workers and improve their access to, and experiences of, paid work.
- Introduce a statutory duty requiring employers to conduct and publish Equality Impact Assessments on the introduction of new technologies at work.
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
TUC AI Bill Project: https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/ai-bill-project
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion