EZA MAGAZINE
EZA PODCAST

The digital world of work

From 15 to 17 February 2018 took place in Manchester a seminar about “The digital world of work”, organized by St Antony's Centre (St Antony's Centre for Church and Industry), with the support of EZA and of the European Union. The seminar was part of the EZA project co-ordination about “Digital world of work – technological developments and changes at the workplace”.

The key speakers were, Herbert Metzger, (Vice-President, EZA), Kathleen Walker-Shaw, (European Officer GMB Union -Brussels Office); Kevin Flanagan, (Director St. Antony’s Centre and GMB Commercial Services Section President); Dr Christina Colclough (Director Platform and Agency Workers, Digitalisation and Trade UNI Global Union); Mac Urata (Section Secretary, International Transport Workers Federation); Jelena Soms (EZA Co-ordinator) and Dr Simon Joyce (Research Fellow, Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change, Leeds University Business School) with 20 representatives of workers’ organizations drawn from 6 EU member states including the UK.

Besides the Seminar, the delegates took the opportunity to view the Robotic Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry which showed the development of early automata and computers through to the new robotics systems and products being promoted in the world of work. For example, robots that can aid career options or help increase social interaction.

The primary concerns expressed by speakers and delegates were the extent of data formatting and mining by large multi-national organisations, the controls that individuals have in relation to their personal data and increase surveillance of their work activity. Specific examples included the use of Sat Nav to monitor drivers, digital tracking of warehouse operatives on their pick rates and the rate of products scanned by supermarket workers.

The presentation by Dr Christina Colclough on Platform Working showed that recent research in the EU has seen an increase in the number of workers engaged in platform working, however in a number of instances platform working is used to supplement other work has a means of earning additional money. The nature of insecurity and the question of the employee/employer relationship was a key area of discussion. A recent case in the UK brought by the GMB Trade Union in relation to Uber highlighted the question of when a worker should be classified as a direct worker with normal contractual rights and productions as part of their employment contract. This was reflected in their reports from worker organisations represented at the conference.

The financial sector for example has seen significant growth in new technology with a reduction in high street banking facilities and face to face access to financial or banking advisers. The presentation by Mac Urata of Uniglobal highlighted the growth in globally based platform agencies, especially within the transport sector and the increased research into travellers’ technology or computerised systems taking over larger areas of activity with an end reduction in overall employment.

Within the framework of Catholic/Christian Social Thinking delegates emphasised that the integrity of work and its true purposes had to be retained as core to good work. Workers face increasing challenges in respect of uncertainty about their employment status and in some instances who they are employed with. The collective nature of work as a ‘community of persons’ has also been challenged with the growth of assumed working or platform working therefore the question of work playing a wider role in and contributing to the common good for society is one requiring further reflection.

Key Conclusions from the Seminar

  1. In relation to control and accountability of technology used by employers what access to do trade unions have to the information that is gathered and that they require for collective bargaining purposes?
  2. The challenge of increased sharing and collection of personal data and its corresponding value in relation to marketing, research, product promotion and in the areas of health and privacy. Recent work and a report by Uniglobal outlining 10 Principles on Data were important in this regard.
  3. Continuing to develop networks of information, sharing good practice and examples where workers’ organisations were successful in challenging inappropriate use of technology or ‘humanising’ the work processes was felt to be particularly important and a key role for EZA and its partner/member organisations.

Future Work

Delegates considered whether the social policies adopted within the European Union needed to look at strengthening employee rights; the right to association and the role of Trade Unions in relation to the protection of personal data. All are themes that EZA and its partners could continue to research and develop arising from the lived experience of workers in the EU.