Technology, Employment and Wellbeing

In our fourth issue of the Technology, Employment and Wellbeing blog, we would like to draw your attention to the importance of collective bargaining over the use of new technologies in the workplace.

In spring 2023, more than 10,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike with the demand to address a growing concern regarding the use of AI-powered writing tools, such as ChatGPT. Several months of intense negotiations ended with a major victory for Hollywood writers with a new contract featuring strong guardrails in how the technology can be used in film and television projects.  This has brought to light two significant insights. First, the integration of AI in the workplace is not a distant future scenario; it is on our doorstep. Second, some trade unions are already addressing AI systems in negotiating working conditions.

The articles presented in this issue reflect on a joint research project between UNI Europe and the FES Competence Centre on the Future of Work – Collective Bargaining Agreements on AI that was launched earlier this year.

In the first article of this issue, Steve Rolf explains the limits of ‘intelligence’ of AI and algorithmic management systems (AAMS) that can be used in the workplace.

Drawing on the research findings, Oliver Philipp  provides an overview of the survey conducted with trade union affiliates.

José Valera Ferrio highlights an important recent achievement of the two largest trade unions (CCOO and UGT) in including a section on AI in the workplace as part of the 5^th Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining.