Social Europe

  • EU Forward Project
  • YouTube
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • Newsletter
  • Membership

Trade Unions Are Ready To Tackle The Digital Challenge

Thiébaut Weber 31st October 2017

weber bioSince award-winning physicist Stephen Hawking first warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could spell the end of humanity, other experts have echoed his cataclysmic forecast. In the meantime, for many workers, the day-to-day impact of digital technologies is much more pedestrian, if sometimes almost as threatening. Yet, alongside the risks, trade unions believe that if managed in the right way, digitalisation could offer new and less arduous job opportunities and better working conditions.

At present, however, online platforms, robotisation and crowdwork are increasing the likelihood of job destruction in industry, precarious work with no social protection, labour market segmentation, involuntary self-employment and lack of employer accountability; workers’ rights and the ability of trade unions to organise and represent the most vulnerable are being undermined.

Digitalisation is on everyone’s lips, often spoken of as an irresistible force for change. We are told that in its scale, speed and complexity, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) is unlike anything humankind has experienced before. These changes are transforming the nature of work in Europe and around the globe.

Managing change

But does that mean they cannot be managed? Trade unions believe they must be, and are mobilising together to that end. Radical developments in society seldom prioritise the public good and, as in previous industrial revolutions, it is workers and trade unions that must fight for social regulation and governance in the interests of ordinary people. Industrial revolutions are unfair by nature and social justice does not fall from the sky. Far from living in the past, unions are active in anticipating change and meeting the challenges it throws up. That is our role. It is in our DNA. Who will represent workers’ interests otherwise? Without trade unions, they would face a very bleak future.

Digitalisation, robotisation and AI give rise to important questions about responsibility and accountability. Platform work and self-employment break the traditional chain of command between employer and worker. In the absence of any contract, who is responsible for social protection, insurance and safety? Bicycle delivery workers, for example, are especially vulnerable: “In the event of an accident or injury, we’re completely alone and have no access to legal help or sick pay,” said one Deliveroo rider in central London. Who is ultimately responsible for programming AI, if something goes wrong? We insist that human beings must keep control and be accountable for the actions of robots and AI, and this must be adopted as a fundamental ethical principle. People – and specifically the social partners – must agree on and apply the rules.

Digitalisation will impact on public services, such as health and social care and employment services, with public authorities tending to adopt the role of intermediaries between providers and ‘clients’. It is very important to keep public good as the main objective and recognise that in some instances, human contact is crucial. Social dialogue is necessary to ensure that digitalisation does not damage either working conditions or standards of service.

A better work/life balance?

We recognise the potential benefits. For example, digitalisation offers opportunities for a better work/life balance, but only if implemented by mutual consent – not if it demands unlimited flexibility and round-the-clock availability. So-called ‘Cobots’ can lighten heavy tasks, but people must be in control. Experts predict an additional 1.3 million data workers in Europe by 2020, while new sectors such as 3D printing – growing at 30% a year – are booming. 3D printing can save huge amounts of raw material in industry, but throws up questions of health and safety and liability. The World Economic Forum predicts that 65% of children starting primary school today will end up doing jobs that do not yet exist.



Don't miss out on cutting-edge thinking.


Join tens of thousands of informed readers and stay ahead with our insightful content. It's free.



We must avoid a worst-case scenario of robots replacing humans and generating massive job losses. Digitalisation has to work for the benefit of people – and just as workers participate in decision-making in conventional company structures, through works councils and workers’ board-level representation for example, ways must be found to give them a say in the way digitalisation and robotisation impact on their life at work.

Online platforms must conform to existing EU employment legislation, together with new measures arising from the forthcoming European Pillar of Social Rights: in particular the revision of the EU Written Statement Directive. Also, we as unions must give these platform entrepreneurs a chance and try to establish a dialogue with them and ensure they are open and accountable. We want to encourage a public debate to make citizens and consumers more aware of the issues at stake, and encourage them to assess the way workers are treated by platforms, when they use them. Rules must be imposed to avoid social dumping inside the sectors, and to ensure that digital companies contribute to social wellbeing through fair taxes on profits and their turnover made in Europe.

weber graph01

Europe takes the lead

The EU has a crucial role to play on this EU-wide topic. Global online platforms often by-pass national regulation, so a Europe-wide framework of rules is the best way to establish a level playing field with respect for workers’ rights. The Union must also prevent a ‘digital divide’ creating inequalities not only between countries and regions, but also between sectors of society: rich and poor, men and women, young and older people, highly and less qualified. The graph above illustrates that in 2015 more than 20% of EU citizens had no digital skills at all, and national variations were wide. The best way to guarantee cohesion is through investment in education and training, infrastructure and social dialogue. A ‘just transition’ to digitalisation means not leaving large portions of the population behind. In the meantime, more research is needed to examine the impacts of digitalisation, especially on employment.

The ETUC is about to launch a series of initiatives to collect and exchange policy ideas, experience and knowledge, working together with the European Parliament and European Economic and Social Committee to develop realistic solutions.

We do not want to frighten people by highlighting the dangers of digital evolution. But there are choices to be made, and systems must not be left to develop in a regulatory vacuum. Trade union mobilisation is vital, for, as our forebears found in the 19th century, if we wait until this new Industrial Revolution is complete, it will be too late. I see more and more colleagues in the unions who are even considering the 4th industrial revolution as an opportunity to lay new foundations for the trade union movement. Let us be ready to respond to this exciting challenge.

This column is sponsored by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
Thiébaut Weber

Thiébaut Weber is a young trade unionist and former student activist in his native France. He was elected as ETUC Confederal Secretary at the Paris Congress in 2015. His ETUC responsibilities include digitalisation, new forms of work, and online platforms. One of his main priorities is to find trade union solutions to tackle the challenges of new technological developments and the platform economy.

Harvard University Press Advertisement

Social Europe Ad - Promoting European social policies

We need your help.

Support Social Europe for less than €5 per month and help keep our content freely accessible to everyone. Your support empowers independent publishing and drives the conversations that matter. Thank you very much!

Social Europe Membership

Click here to become a member

Most Recent Articles

u4219834676 bcba 6b2b3e733ce2 1 The End of an Era: What’s Next After Globalisation?Apostolos Thomadakis
u4219834674a bf1a 0f45ab446295 0 Germany’s Subcontracting Ban in the Meat IndustryŞerife Erol, Anneliese Kärcher, Thorsten Schulten and Manfred Walser
u4219834dafae1dc3 2 EU’s New Fiscal Rules: Balancing Budgets with Green and Digital AmbitionsPhilipp Heimberger
u42198346d1f0048 1 The Dangerous Metaphor of Unemployment “Scarring”Tom Boland and Ray Griffin
u4219834675 4ff1 998a 404323c89144 1 Why Progressive Governments Keep Failing — And How to Finally Win Back VotersMariana Mazzucato

Most Popular Articles

u4219834647f 0894ae7ca865 3 Europe’s Businesses Face a Quiet Takeover as US Investors CapitaliseTej Gonza and Timothée Duverger
u4219834674930082ba55 0 Portugal’s Political Earthquake: Centrist Grip Crumbles, Right AscendsEmanuel Ferreira
u421983467e58be8 81f2 4326 80f2 d452cfe9031e 1 “The Universities Are the Enemy”: Why Europe Must Act NowBartosz Rydliński
u42198346761805ea24 2 Trump’s ‘Golden Era’ Fades as European Allies Face Harsh New RealityFerenc Németh and Peter Kreko
startupsgovernment e1744799195663 Governments Are Not StartupsMariana Mazzucato
u421986cbef 2549 4e0c b6c4 b5bb01362b52 0 American SuicideJoschka Fischer
u42198346769d6584 1580 41fe 8c7d 3b9398aa5ec5 1 Why Trump Keeps Winning: The Truth No One AdmitsBo Rothstein
u421983467 a350a084 b098 4970 9834 739dc11b73a5 1 America Is About to Become the Next BrexitJ Bradford DeLong
u4219834676ba1b3a2 b4e1 4c79 960b 6770c60533fa 1 The End of the ‘West’ and Europe’s FutureGuillaume Duval
u421983462e c2ec 4dd2 90a4 b9cfb6856465 1 The Transatlantic Alliance Is Dying—What Comes Next for Europe?Frank Hoffer

Foundation for European Progressive Studies Advertisement

Spring Issues

The Summer issue of The Progressive Post is out!


It is time to take action and to forge a path towards a Socialist renewal.


European Socialists struggle to balance their responsibilities with the need to take bold positions and actions in the face of many major crises, while far-right political parties are increasingly gaining ground. Against this background, we offer European progressive forces food for thought on projecting themselves into the future.


Among this issue’s highlights, we discuss the transformative power of European Social Democracy, examine the far right’s efforts to redesign education systems to serve its own political agenda and highlight the growing threat of anti-gender movements to LGBTIQ+ rights – among other pressing topics.

READ THE MAGAZINE

Hans Böckler Stiftung Advertisement

WSI Report

WSI Minimum Wage Report 2025

The trend towards significant nominal minimum wage increases is continuing this year. In view of falling inflation rates, this translates into a sizeable increase in purchasing power for minimum wage earners in most European countries. The background to this is the implementation of the European Minimum Wage Directive, which has led to a reorientation of minimum wage policy in many countries and is thus boosting the dynamics of minimum wages. Most EU countries are now following the reference values for adequate minimum wages enshrined in the directive, which are 60% of the median wage or 50 % of the average wage. However, for Germany, a structural increase is still necessary to make progress towards an adequate minimum wage.

DOWNLOAD HERE

S&D Group in the European Parliament advertisement

Cohesion Policy

S&D Position Paper on Cohesion Policy post-2027: a resilient future for European territorial equity

Cohesion Policy aims to promote harmonious development and reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between the regions of the Union, and the backwardness of the least favoured regions with a particular focus on rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as outermost regions, regions with very low population density, islands, cross-border and mountain regions.

READ THE FULL POSITION PAPER HERE

ETUI advertisement

HESA Magazine Cover

With a comprehensive set of relevant indicators, presented in 85 graphs and tables, the 2025 Benchmarking Working Europe report examines how EU policies can reconcile economic, social and environmental goals to ensure long-term competitiveness. Considered a key reference, this publication is an invaluable resource for supporting European social dialogue.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Eurofound advertisement

Ageing workforce
The evolution of working conditions in Europe

This episode of Eurofound Talks examines the evolving landscape of European working conditions, situated at the nexus of profound technological transformation.

Mary McCaughey speaks with Barbara Gerstenberger, Eurofound's Head of Unit for Working Life, who leverages insights from the 35-year history of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS).

Listen to the episode for free. Also make sure to subscribe to Eurofound Talks so you don’t miss an episode!

LISTEN NOW

Social Europe

Our Mission

Team

Article Submission

Advertisements

Membership

Social Europe Archives

Themes Archive

Politics Archive

Economy Archive

Society Archive

Ecology Archive

Miscellaneous

RSS Feed

Legal Disclosure

Privacy Policy

Copyright

Social Europe ISSN 2628-7641

BlueskyXWhatsApp