SIPTU has called for protections for workers affected by Artificial Intelligence and stronger action against subcontracting abuses, on the opening day of its Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction (TEAC) Divisional Biennial Delegate Conference at the Hodson Bay Hotel, County Roscommon.
Delegates unanimously passed an Aviation Sector motion on Artificial Intelligence (AI), covering its use in areas including rostering, maintenance, security screening and performance monitoring. It calls for workforce impact assessments for major automation projects.
SIPTU TEAC Divisional Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “AI can improve efficiency and safety in aviation and other areas, but workers must have a say in how it is introduced. Human judgement must remain central to safety-critical operations, and technological progress must bring benefits for workers.”
He added: “We are calling for mandatory consultation with workers and their unions, industry-funded training, and protection against compulsory redundancy through retraining and redeployment. The Government must ensure transparency in the use of AI and introduce a national Just Transition for Aviation Workers framework.”
Delegates endorsed a Construction Sector motion calling for legislation limiting subcontracting tiers, transparency throughout the supply chain and stronger enforcement against bogus self-employment, including increased workplace inspections and penalties for employers who deliberately misclassify workers.
Speaking in support of the motion, SIPTU National Executive Council member Willie O’Shaughnessy, said: “Public money should be used to build Ireland’s infrastructure, not to create unnecessarily long chains of subcontracting where money is taken out at every level while workers at the bottom are left carrying the risk.”
He added: “We also need to tackle the issue of bogus self-employment. Workers who should be directly employed can find themselves classified as self-employed, potentially leaving them without their full employment rights, protections and benefits to which employees are entitled.”
He also called for effective trade union access to construction sites to monitor employment standards and inform workers of their rights.