Under the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ deal with the tech giant, Microsoft will give workers and union leaders insights into the production of AI and collaborate on “responsible AI policy”.
The ACTU said the deal “sets a new benchmark for workers’ rights in the tech sector.”
Deal
The ACTU and Microsoft signed the deal on Wednesday. It has three components:
- Microsoft will share more information about AI trends with workers and union leaders. This will include AI training and education sessions led by the tech company.
- Microsoft will give workers a “voice” to share their experiences with, and feedback on, AI models.
- Microsoft and the ACTU will find areas of “mutual interest” to inform “responsible AI policy”.
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Microsoft Australia Vice President Steven Miller said the deal will “ensure workers’ voices are at the heart of Australia’s AI transformation”.
ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell said it will let workers “better engage with and contribute to the design of AI systems in their workplaces.”
Context
The AI boom has affected many big businesses.
Last year, Commonwealth Bank (CBA) said it would cut 45 jobs in call centres because AI would reduce work.
The Finance Sector Union (FSU) took CBA to the Fair Work Commission over the redundancies.
CBA later reversed the job cuts and apologised, with FSU calling it a “major win.”
