UK union aims to set ground rules on AI for government

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The UK’s leading civil servants union has launched a campaign to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence in government is geared towards improving the working conditions of civil servants.

The PCS union announced on Friday it would campaign for legislation to “protect unions, jobs and workers’ rights in the face of AI”, and introduced a “model contract” on the use of AI in government.

The union said in a statement that AI is having a major impact on the world of work, as well as on society as a whole. Its national executive committee agreed to develop a negotiation strategy aimed at including a model agreement on the use of AI in the civil service.

In particular, the union called for transparency about how AI systems operate and decisions about their use to ensure public trust, as well as for legislation to ensure transparency and address concerns about safety, discrimination and regulation.

“We believe it is important that any improvements made through AI are used to improve services and not simply to reduce the cost of current service levels through mass redundancies,” the union said, highlighting comments by former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden that the implementation of AI would result in reductions in civil service staff numbers.

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AI Contract Model

The association has developed a so-called model agreement on artificial intelligence, on the basis of which the Cabinet of Ministers could provide guidelines on the possible use of artificial intelligence in government administration.

The PCS proposal says new AI systems should only be introduced after consultation and agreement with the union, and any existing systems should be disclosed. The deal would also require that AI cannot lead to job losses, although the union said it recognised this would have an impact on job roles.

Under the proposal, AI will also not be used in any decision that affects humans, including selecting employees for recruitment, promotion, transfer or dismissal, or influencing the pay, conditions or status of employees. Productivity gains achieved through the introduction and use of AI should be shared with employees in the form of reduced working hours and higher wages, PCS said.

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