Reflecting on the Impact of AI in the Workplace
The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) brought together union activists and experts for two days of discussions on artificial intelligence in the workplace, exploring how it is being used and its impact on work organization, employee surveillance, health and safety, labour relations, and social and environmental issues.
Led by Lucie Enel of the QFL Research Department, the event aimed to better understand the changes AI is bringing to the workplace and identify ways to protect and advance workers’ rights and interests.
Participants benefited from the expertise of several specialists, including:
- Gaëlle Laperrière, postdoctoral researcher in computer science at UQAM;
- Julien Thibault, lawyer at MMGC;
- Nathalie Blais, union advisor in CUPE’s Research Department;
- Julie Garneau, professor in the Department of Industrial Relations at UQO;
- François Kamoureux, President of the Labour and Workforce Advisory Committee (CCTM);
- Dalia Gesualdi-Fecteau, professor at the School of Industrial Relations at the University of Montreal and director of the Interuniversity Research Centre on Globalization and Work (CRIMT).
One key takeaway emerged from these discussions: the integration of artificial intelligence into the workplace must have clear boundaries. Workers and their unions must have a voice in decisions about how these technologies are introduced and used. Meaningful consultation with workers, unions, employers and governments is essential to ensure that workers’ rights, interests and well-being are protected.
