Earlier this year Usdaw launched a policy statement on ‘Understanding Technology and Automation: Shaping the Future of Work’. The statement was underpinned by a survey of over 3,000 Usdaw members and the results highlight the extent of the challenges that lie ahead:
- One in five workers are extremely concerned about their job security over the next five years.
- Six in ten workers don't understand what data their employer is collecting on them.
- Nine in ten workers say their employer has failed to consult on the introduction of new technology at work.
The full document can be found at: www.usdaw.org.uk/Members/ADM-2022/NECStatUnderstandingTechnologyAndAutomation.aspx
Addressing conference delegates in Brighton, Dave McCrossen – Usdaw Deputy General Secretary said: “Technology has been playing an ever increasing role in the workplace. Automation, artificial intelligence and big data are all changing the world of work; from what we do, to how we do it and how we're managed. While technological change has the potential to offer benefits, it is also creating significant challenges for workers. This is why it's such an important issue for the trade union movement and why we need to act now.
“Three quarters of workers believe that better consultation can make technology more effective at work, but instead employers are wasting huge sums of money on technology that doesn't even work properly. This isn't just detrimental to workers - it's bad for business. Workers deserve to have an input into decisions that affect them.
“At the same time as failing to consult, many employers are failing to invest in training and re-skilling. Estimates suggest that nine in ten UK employees will need to retrain by 2030, at an additional cost of £13 billion per year, that's 90% of the workforce over the next eight years. Employers need to act now and so does the Government.
“Last year, the Government needlessly scrapped the Union Learning Fund in England and they've continuously failed to address huge flaws in the Apprenticeship Levy. These choices are not only seriously undermining skills development, but also economic growth.
“At present it's too easy and too cheap for employers to cut jobs, this needs to change. Change to deliver more investment in skills and training, change to ensure workers can benefit from developing technology trends and change that focuses on stronger industrial relations. On this basis, trade unions can make workers' voices heard by employers and Government, we can protect workers and we can make the future of work fair and just for all.”
Usdaw is calling for:
- Legal right to collective consultation on the implementation of new technology in the workplace.
- Fundamental reform of the Apprenticeship Levy
- Reinstatement of the Union Learning Fund across England.
- Right to paid time off for retraining.
- Mandatory equality impact assessments and a requirement for employers to act upon the findings.
- Stronger trade unions rights, including a significant reduction in the threshold for trade union recognition,
- Stronger protections against redundancy.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is 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.
For further information please contact Usdaw’s Media Officer, David Williams on: 0161 249 2469, 07798 696 603 or by e-mail to [email protected]
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion