Close Menu
Versa AI hub
  • AI Ethics
  • AI Legislation
  • Business
  • Cybersecurity
  • Media and Entertainment
  • Content Creation
  • Art Generation
  • Research
  • Tools
  • Resources

Subscribe to Updates

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated with the latest news and exclusive offers.

What's Hot

How AI is building the future of cities

August 1, 2025

Valley influencer arrested for “business takeover” recorded using AI glasses

July 31, 2025

Gradio’s AI Shopping Assistant

July 31, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Versa AI hubVersa AI hub
Friday, August 1
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Login
  • AI Ethics
  • AI Legislation
  • Business
  • Cybersecurity
  • Media and Entertainment
  • Content Creation
  • Art Generation
  • Research
  • Tools
  • Resources
Versa AI hub
Home»AI Legislation»Is BC doing enough to protect workers from AI?
AI Legislation

Is BC doing enough to protect workers from AI?

versatileaiBy versatileaiJuly 21, 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit Telegram Email
#image_title
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Ten months after being encouraged to change labor laws to address artificial intelligence, the BC government is still considering how it will take.

In February 2024, the state asked a panel of three to review the BC Labor Relations Code and propose necessary changes.

Their report included recommendation changes that empowered the union to demand consultations with employers over the adoption of AI tools.

And while the panel and some unions have urged the government to take action, they say they are not ready to discuss AI Act until the public consultation process is complete.

<who>Photo credit: Nowmedia/corvin vaski” class=”img-responsive” src=”https://www.pentictonnow.com/files/files/images/Untitled%20design%20(6).png” style=”margin: 5px;”/></p>
<p>The Labor Law now calls for a “comprehensive agreement that encloses provisions of regular union employer consultations to promote cooperative resolution of workplace issues, respond to economic changes, promote the development of job-related skills, and promote workplace productivity.”</p>
<p>The panel — chaired by the mediator arbitrator and former associate chair of the BC Labor Relations Commission, Sandra Bannister, lawyer representing workers’ interests, and Lincy Thomson, who represents employer’s interests — said AI should be changed as it affects the workplace.</p>
<p>“Reorganizing work, productivity (and) technology changes” is recommended to be added as a topic of consultation.</p>
<p>However, Bannister dissented, saying that these changes were not sufficient.</p>
<p>She called for additional measures to encourage more consultations on artificial intelligence between employers and unions.</p>
<p>Labor law already requires employers to notify unions of changes that affect working conditions and employment safety within 60 days and meet in an attempt to find a solution.</p>
<p>In her review, she suggested that the BC government should require employers to consult with the union at least 120 days in advance before introducing artificial intelligence tools into the workplace.</p>
<p>The provision, she said, would not block employers from bringing AI tools to the workplace, but she said employers would force them to consider ways to protect employees, negotiate measures such as retirement benefits, and consider alternative options.</p>
<p>“Given the speed at which the generation AI is developing, I think the state should ride its suite of advertising,” Bannister told Tyee. “It’s all pretty scary, especially for employment and job safety.”</p>
<p>“Artificial intelligence has very deep and broad meaning and someone has to deal with it,” she said. “Canada appears to be behind eight balls and I’m very concerned.”</p>
<p>Sussanne Skidmore, president of the BC Labour Federation, said the panel’s proposal is a “basic immediate action” that the state can take to protect workers from the negative effects of AI.</p>
<p>“The government needs to act quickly on this and make sure it’s actually protecting workers and their jobs,” she said. “It won’t take long for this to affect every level of our economy, and the government should come ahead of this rather than trying to catch up.”</p>
<p>She said the BC union is adding “guardrails” to the state, and adding “guardrails” to protect workers from the harshest impacts of artificial intelligence on labor.</p>
<p>Skidmore said he supports the panel’s recommendation that the state is considering updating employment, privacy and human rights laws to protect the work of all Colombians in the UK.</p>
<p>“AI is restructuring the workplace faster than the law can handle it,” Skidmore said. “Unions do some of the things they can do at the negotiation table, but they also need legislative floors that bring to all workers.”</p>
<p>The proposed labor law affects only about 30% of UK Colombian workers with collective agreements, excluding workers in industries such as software and finance.</p>
<p>The state government received the panel’s recommendations on August 31, 2024, but was released only at the end of June. We are currently seeking public comment until September 19th.</p>
<p>Asked about plans for the BC government to address artificial intelligence in the workplace, Labor Department spokesman Reece Mack told Tyee it was “too early” to discuss the state’s approach. He noted the current consultations regarding the panel’s report.</p>
<p>Bannister said he understands that the state government is obsessed with state elections and is threatened by threats from US President Donald Trump.</p>
<p>She added that she has spent time praising the state to consult with the public about the new law.</p>
<p>Still, she said she was worried about the pace at which the government was moving.</p>
<p>“I’m a bit pessimistic when they avoid these suggestions,” Bannister said. “When it comes to AI, it can be too late for a lot of jobs.”</p>
<p>Isaac Phan Nay/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter/The Tyee</p>
<p>
					</div>
<style>
.aioseo-author-bio-compact {
	display: flex;
	gap: 40px;
	padding: 12px;

	text-align: left;
	border: 1px solid black;
	border-radius: 5px;

	color: #111111;
	background-color: #FFFFFF;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-left {
	flex: 0 0 120px;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right {
	flex: 1 1 auto;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-left .aioseo-author-bio-compact-image {
	width: 120px;
	height: 120px;
	border-radius: 5px;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header {
	display: flex;
	align-items: center;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header .author-name {
	font-size: 22px;
	font-weight: 600;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header .author-job-title {
	margin-left: 12px;
	padding-left: 12px;
	font-size: 18px;
	border-left: 1px solid gray;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main {
	margin: 12px 0;
	font-size: 18px;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main > p:last-of-type {
	display: inline;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link {
	display: inline-flex;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link a {
	display: flex;
	align-items: center;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link a svg {
	fill: black;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-expertises {
	display: flex;
	flex-wrap: wrap;
	gap: 10px;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-expertises .author-expertise {
	padding: 4px 8px;

	font-size: 14px;

	border-radius: 4px;
	background-color: #DCDDE1;
	color: inherit;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials {
	margin-top: 12px;

	display: flex;
	gap: 6px;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials .aioseo-social-icon-tumblrUrl {
	margin-left: -2px;
}

.aioseo-author-bio-compact-site-editor-disclaimer {
	color: black;
	margin-bottom: 12px;
	font-style: italic;
}

@media screen and (max-width: 430px ) {
	.aioseo-author-bio-compact {
		flex-direction: column;
		gap: 20px;
	}

	.aioseo-author-bio-compact-left .aioseo-author-bio-compact-image {
		display: block;
		margin: 0 auto;
		width: 160px;
		height: 160px;
	}

	.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right {
		text-align: center;
	}

	.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header {
		justify-content: center;
	}

	.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials {
		justify-content: center;
	}
}
</style>


<div class=

author avatar
versatileai
See Full Bio
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleJuly: UK’s most powerful supercomputer launches in Bristol | News and Features
Next Article Technical experts in AI innovation, legal and regulatory
versatileai

Related Posts

AI Legislation

3 Predictions about how AI will affect radiology

July 31, 2025
AI Legislation

Workplace AI: How state law affects employers

July 30, 2025
AI Legislation

The White House announces a 30-page “AI Action Plan” featuring 90 policies

July 25, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Top Posts

Presight plans to expand its AI business internationally

April 14, 20254 Views

PlanetScale Vectors GA: MySQL and AI Database Game Changer

April 14, 20254 Views

Innocean teams up with nine AI-specialized companies to accelerate the acceleration of AI business

April 14, 20254 Views
Stay In Touch
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Threads
Latest Reviews

Subscribe to Updates

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated with the latest news and exclusive offers.

Most Popular

Presight plans to expand its AI business internationally

April 14, 20254 Views

PlanetScale Vectors GA: MySQL and AI Database Game Changer

April 14, 20254 Views

Innocean teams up with nine AI-specialized companies to accelerate the acceleration of AI business

April 14, 20254 Views
Don't Miss

How AI is building the future of cities

August 1, 2025

Valley influencer arrested for “business takeover” recorded using AI glasses

July 31, 2025

Gradio’s AI Shopping Assistant

July 31, 2025
Service Area
X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok Threads RSS
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
© 2025 Versa AI Hub. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?