- Conference
- 2025 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 11 February 2025
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems are being rapidly deployed across UK public services.
Conference recognises that AI and automation offer significant opportunities to transform public services. These technologies could help address many longstanding challenges by streamlining administrative processes, providing better data insights for decision-making, and freeing up worker time to focus on complex tasks requiring human judgment and interaction.
However, Conference notes that without appropriate intervention, the introduction of AI systems across public services presents risks to services and workers. The potential impacts of AI on workers are numerous, and include work intensification, risks to health and safety, discriminatory and unfair outcomes, lack of control over data, loss of privacy, lack of human agency and freedom over work, and the degradation of human judgement and skill.
There is also the risk of AI to causing harm to citizens if systems go wrong, with worrying implications for equalities. When algorithmic systems are introduced into our public services, the consequences of mistakes in those algorithms can be catastrophic for vulnerable individuals reliant on services, including those with protected characteristics.
Conference further notes that procurement spending on digital technologies continues to rise substantially across the public sector, where major contracts are being awarded to private sector technology companies. The public sector holds some of our most sensitive data as citizens, and conference believes careful consideration must be given to maintaining public control over essential infrastructure and sensitive data.
The integration of AI into public services raises important questions about governance, accountability and the changing nature of public sector work. As these technologies become more sophisticated and widespread, their impact on jobs, skills requirements and working conditions will likely increase. While some routine tasks may be automated, new roles and responsibilities will emerge. This transition must be managed carefully to ensure workers are supported to adapt and develop new skills rather than being displaced.
Conference believes that realising the benefits of AI while protecting workers and public services requires a balanced and inclusive approach. This means ensuring meaningful worker involvement in system design and implementation, so that AI complements and enhances rather than replaces human capabilities. It requires proper investment in training and support so workers can effectively use new technologies and develop their skills for the future. Clear governance frameworks are needed to maintain democratic oversight while enabling innovation, along with strong safeguards for data protection and privacy.
UNISON Cymru/Wales recognises that the successful integration of AI into public services relies on building effective partnerships between government, employers, workers and unions. These partnerships should aim to harness AI’s potential to improve services while protecting jobs and working conditions. They should ensure that productivity gains benefit both service users and workers, while maintaining public control over essential infrastructure and data. This requires developing comprehensive frameworks for worker consultation, skills development, impact assessment and ethical AI use. As such it has, in Social Partnership co-produced guidance on Managing Technology that Manages People with public sector employers and Welsh government. This guidance outlines three critical elements: the checks and balances required for the purpose or development of new algorithmic management systems, guidance for the responsible implementation of AI as a workforce management tool and ongoing post-adoption evaluation. Implementation is being piloted in a number of public sector organisations. UNISON Cymru/Wales continues to work in partnership with Welsh government, employers and the Centre for Digital Public Services to develop wider guidance and advice for the public sector.
Conference recognises that unions have a vital role to play in shaping how AI is implemented in public services as demonstrated through the work in Wales. Through collective bargaining, consultation and social partnership, unions can help ensure that technological change benefits workers and services rather than simply driving efficiencies and cost reduction. This includes negotiating over the impacts on jobs and working conditions, securing proper training and support, establishing clear data protection safeguards, and ensuring workers have a meaningful voice in how systems are designed and deployed.
Conference calls on the National Executive Council to:
1)Establish AI and digitalisation in public services as a key policy, campaigning and organising issue for UNISON;
2)Lobby UK governments for AI use in public services that prioritises the engagement, consultation and consent of workers;
3)Work with service groups to develop sector-specific campaigns on AI and new technologies;
4)Develop guidance and training for branches on negotiating on AI and data in public sector workplaces;
5)Campaign for procurement requirements requiring transparency, workers’ rights protections and public ownership safeguards in AI contracts;
6)Work with the relevant self organised groups and regions to mitigate any unintended consequences, for example, diluting the quality of British Sign Language.