FSU will attend the EU AI Conference after securing union participation

FSU will attend the EU AI Conference after securing union participation

The Financial Services Union (FSU) have confirmed they will be attending the Government’s flagship AI conference as a delegate this Wednesday.

The FSU were very critical of the lack of union involvement last month and subsequently lobbied Government, including meeting with Minister Niamh Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation.

Speaking before the event, John O’Connell, General Secretary of the FSU, said:

“The fact the government planned to proceed with the EU AI conference without the voice of employees being represented shows the priorities driving this Government’s AI agenda.

“The FSU have attended and spoken at conferences across Europe on AI, have undertaken serious research into the possible effects of AI in the workplace, have presented to the Enterprise Committee in the Dáil on the issue and are due in front of the AI Dáil committee next week.

“Unions should not have to lobby Government to receive an invite to these type of events. The voice of workers needs to be ever present in the debate.

“We will make the argument that the integration of AI into the workplace cannot be left to the employer. If AI integration is to happen, it should be done through collective bargaining.”