By Becky Wright, Executive Director, Unions 21 | 3 min
The impact of AI on workers and society has the potential to be transformative, but how do unions play their part? At a recent conference in Brussels, Becky Wright, Executive Director at Unions 21, explored the union experience of AI and the training on offer
Can a general metal workers union lead the way on pushing union ideas on AI?
The answer to this, from ABVV of Belgium, was a “yes!”
Unions 21 was recently invited to speak at “WHAI?” – ABVV’s all-encompassing conference on AI, which took place in Brussels and explored all the facets of AI for workers and society.
It was a great blend of provocative debate, panels and fireside chats, with the main aim being – as Frank Moreels said – “people not always agreeing with each other but having good debate and exchange of ideas”.
One participant remarked that he was surprised to have been asked because a union audience wasn’t always open to hear what he has to say. It felt very much in the Unions 21 culture of being inclusive and collaborative, while sometimes saying things to provoke debate and further our own ideas.
All things AI
We were there to talk through not only our work on AI through the Centre for Responsible Union AI, but also about how unions were using AI, the challenges it brings and how collective bargaining can be strengthened through our own knowledge and understanding of AI.
Previous to this, Thierry Geerts, CEO of BECI (Brussels Enterprises, Commerce and Industry), had talked through the potential of AI to allow us to be more human and evolve into the “Homo Digitalis”. He brought the discussion back to the challenge of how a labour market will evolve with the introduction of a fourth Industrial Revolution that has the potential, now and in the future, to be heavily transformative, and what role unions can play in ensuring a just and social transition.
Tim de Grom gave a brilliant presentation on how they are using automation and AI to handle small tasks and other features, such as their new chatbot. While Steve Cotton, GS ITF, gave an impassioned speech on the role unions play in ensuring collective bargaining on these issues take place and, importantly, how confederations can support that work.
Want to learn more?
If you want to brush up on your own AI knowledge, then we have two great courses available to sign up for now:
Responsible AI Fundamentals for Union Staff – training on the opportunities and challenges of AI for you, your team and your union.
Applying responsible AI in union communications – how can AI improve the quality and impact of your communications?
