Negotiating the Future of Work: Automation and New Technology
Successful intervention is possible
There may only be few collective agreements around transition issues as yet in the UK, but the many initiatives that have already been undertaken by unions both here and abroad show that workers’ voices are starting to be heard at all levels and momentum is clearly building as the economy emerges from the Covid 19 pandemic.
The time to act is now
The major processes of industrial transition being driven by new technology and decarbonisation are already well underway and posing a threat to both the existence and quality of jobs. Unions need to be pro-active now if they are to secure a strong voice in how the transition unfolds, safeguard the livelihoods and wellbeing of their members and ensure that they are well positioned to take advantage of any new opportunities that arise.
Prepare the ground and engage members
The most comprehensive agreements and campaigns mentioned above have needed considerable prior research work ahead of time around the impacts of the transition processes to specific job roles that can feed into discussions with, and help mobilise, affected reps and members.
Use industrial strength
The early agreements around transition issues have been negotiated by unions where there is considerable industrial strength. This points to the importance of using strength where it exists to push for agreements on transition issues as well as to the vital longer-term work of organising and building collective power in workplaces, employers and sectors where little currently exists.
Engage in dialogue at all levels
The strongest transition agreements are based on some form of tri-partite dialogue, where governments, employers and unions work together to devise the plans.
Appendix: Bargaining support materials automation
- Unite Model agreement and bargaining guide
- The Unison model agreement
- TUC guide on AI in management processes: https://www.tuc.org.uk/AImanifesto -
- Prospect guides on data and new technology:
- Data Protection Impact Assessments: https://d28j9ucj9uj44t.cloudfront.net/uploads/2020/12/prospect-dpia-wor…
- The right to disconnect: https://library.prospect.org.uk/download/2020/01157
- Data Protection Impact Assessments: https://d28j9ucj9uj44t.cloudfront.net/uploads/2020/12/prospect-dpia-wor…
Sources
CWU - Royal Mail agreement 2020: https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Joint-draft-KEY-PRINCIPLES-FRAMEWORK-AGREEMENT_18_12_20_Final.pdf
CWU – ToR for the introduction of automated parcel sorting machines: http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Attachment-1-TOR-FOR-THE-…
CWU – ToR for the introduction of AHDC http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Attachment-1-TOR-For-The-…
EVG Work 4.0 agreement with DB Group (own pdf)
ILO, 2020: Social Dialogue and the Future of Work https://www.theglobaldeal.com/resources/Thematic-Brief-Social-Dialogue-…
Armaroli, I 2020: Arbeit 2020”: a trade union project for the digitalisation of German manufacturing industry: http://englishbulletin.adapt.it/arbeit-2020-trade-union-project-digitalisation-germany-manufacturing-industry/
Bosch & Schmitz-Kießler, J, 2020: Shaping Industry 4.0 – an experimental approach developed by German trade unions https://workplaceinnovation.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Shaping-Industry-4.0-%E2%80%93-an-experimental-approach-developed-by-German-trade-unions.pdf
Future Advocacy, 2017: The Impact of AI in UK Constituencies: Where will automation hit hardest? https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5621e990e4b07de840c6ea69/t/59e3e9091f318dcd5e49f6a5/1508108577828/FutureAdvocacy-GeographicalAI.pdf
Welsh Government (2019) Wales 4.0 Delivering Economic Transformation for a Better Future of Work https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-09/delivering-e…
BBC report, 18 April 2018: Automation: '1 in 3 Welsh jobs at risk by early 2030s' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43712829
Welsh Economy Research Unit, Cardiff University ,2018: AI and automation: Examining the future implications for business and employment in Wales, http://orca.cf.ac.uk/129886/2/Horizon%2BScanning%2BAI%2Band%2BAutomation%2BRedraft%2Bv2docx.pdf
Office for National Statistics, 25 March 2019, The probability of automation in England: 2011 and 2017, https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmen…
Fair Work Wales, 2019: Report of the Fair Work Commission https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-05/fair-work-wa…
TUC, 2018: A future that works for working people https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/FutureofWorkReport1.pdf
RSA, 2020, Who is at risk: Work and automation in the time of Covid 19. https://www.thersa.org/globalassets/_foundation/new-site-blocks-and-ima…
Commission on Workers and Technology (2020): Sharing the Future: Workers and Technology in the 2020s https://fabians.org.uk/publication/sharing-the-future-full-report/
BEIS, 2019 Automation and the Future of Work https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmbeis/1093/109…
ACAS, 2017: Mind over Machines: New technology and employment relations https://archive.acas.org.uk/media/4865/Mind-Over-Machines-New-technology-and-employment-relations/pdf/Minds-over-Machines-New-Technology-and-Employment-Relations.pdf
OECD, 2019: Negotiating Our Way Up : Collective Bargaining in a Changing World of Work, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/1fd2da34-en/1/1/1/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/1fd2da34-en&_csp_=fc50d8427000f71bfa234b11ca5f7ccd&itemIGO=oecd&itemContentType=book
Interviews and comments
- Tim Rose, Nationwide Union
- Kate Dearden & others from Future Work Commission, Community Union
- Dave , General Secretary Postal Operational, CWU
Workshops attended ITUC and Unite