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Is BC doing enough to protect workers from AI?

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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> </div> </div> </article> <div class= Share.

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