{"id":8775,"date":"2026-04-20T07:47:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/?post_type=agora_article&p=8775"},"modified":"2026-04-20T15:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:19:50","slug":"towards-a-fair-digital-transition","status":"publish","type":"agora_article","link":"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/en\/agora_article\/towards-a-fair-digital-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Towards a Fair Digital Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Towards a Fair Digital Transition<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Towards a Fair Digital Transition<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Agora #96<\/span><\/div>
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There is a crucial need for regulating those tools at the workplace, where AI has already been deployed without proper regulatory frameworks. <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Towards a Fair Digital Transition in European Public Services<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

USF joins EPSU call to action<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The introduction of AI, digitalisation and new technologies has the potential to positively transform public services and the jobs of public service workers. USF is not against these new tools as easier access to services and increased participation of citizens can be combined with better quality jobs, and repetitive work can be replaced with more fulfilling tasks. Digitalisation and AI nonetheless also pose risks. As mentioned in our Article on IA in Agora no 95<\/a>, \u201cartificial intelligence must not replace workers \u2014 and certainly not without proper consultation, protection, and planning<\/em>\u201d. There is a crucial need for regulating those tools at the workplace, where AI has already been deployed without proper regulatory frameworks. It is important for trade unions to address this new reality swiftly.<\/p>\n

In this context, as a member being represented in EPSU\u2019s executive Committee, USF follows closely and supports EPSU\u2019s action on this issue. USF also supports EPSU \u201cPublic Services Emergency\u201d campaign leading up to Public Service Day on 23 June, in which EPSU calls for fighting for quality public services, notably as regards digitalisation and IA.<\/p>\n

You will find below a few highlights on the action led by EPSU (and supported by USF) on digitalisation and AI.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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For EPSU, trade unions can get the best from the digital transformation if they have workers\u2019 rights to informa\u00adtion and consultation respected and collective bargaining genuinely applied. Digitalisation must be implemented through social dialogue and with the full involvement of workers and their representatives.<\/p>\n

This is why EPSU is following closely the issues of digitalisation and the application of IA to workplaces. In September 2025, it urged the European Commission to prioritise public ownership of digital infrastructure and strong worker involvement while developing its new Apply Artificial Intelligence Strategy<\/em>. This strategy focuses on public administrations, health, judiciary, and education. EPSU warns that \u201cthis plan would create cybersecurity and even national security risks without strong public ownership and worker involvement.\u00a0Sensitive data from hospitals, schools and courts cannot simply be fed into systems<\/strong>\u00a0run by private tech giants or stored on US-controlled clouds. EPSU calls then for\u00a0\u201cpublicly owned digital infrastructure<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<\/strong>democratically governed public clouds\u201d<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

USF supports EPSU\u2019s Public Services Agenda<\/strong><\/a>, adopted in May 2025, in which EPSU urges European institutions to \u201cguarantee algorithmic transparency in AI-driven public services\u201d and to \u201cregulate the use of AI at work in line with the EU Central Government Social Partner agreement on digitalisation”. EPSU argues that AI must strengthen public services, not replace public service workers. That means full implementation of the EU AI Act<\/a>, strict protection of personal data, consultation and bargaining with workers over any AI deployment. Public service workers must shape how these tools are introduced, with time and training provided. More broadly, instead of handing essential services to private corporations and feeding them with public money, Europe must choose public investment, democratic control and digital sovereignty to ensure that AI serves people and planet, not profit.<\/p>\n

EPSU welcomed the European Parliament report on\u00a0<\/strong>digitalisation, artificial intelligence and algorithmic management in the workplace<\/em><\/a> \u2013 shaping the future of work, <\/em>adopted in December, which acknowledged the importance and urgency to regulate IA and called for a European legal framework. For EPSU, this framework would provide legal certainty and predictability and would be in line with Europe\u2019s social model and workers\u2019 fundamental rights, at a time when workers are impacted by the roll-out of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. \u00a0Automated human resource programmes, including for dismissals, surveillance, and the use of algorithms to decide on work, over which workers have limited or no say, are already applied. For EPSU, if the European Commission promotes the use of AI through its Apply AI<\/em>, it has done little to strengthen workers\u2019 rights and employers\u2019 obligations to go with this development. A number of employees have no confidence in their employers and their motives for the use of AI.<\/p>\n

Along with EPSU, USF supports ETUC\u2019s call on the Commission to include a Directive on AI at the workplace in its Quality Jobs Act proposal<\/a>, which should respect inter alia \u201cthe importance of human authority over artificial intelligence\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Back in November 2022, an agreement<\/a> had been adopted between the European employers and the unions on digitalisation, telework, and AI at the place of work. Since then, the signatories have been seeking legislative action, in order to set common minimum standards, ensure equal treatment for all workers, and guarantee uniform enforcement across the EU. The implementation of the agreement has been delayed by the Commission, which has conditioned it upon completion of the consultation of social partners on telework and right to disconnect<\/a>, in which EPSU took part actively. \u00a0Since this agreement has been approved, EPSU has been pushing for its implementation via a directive, which would be meaningful as the EU Apply AI Strategy<\/em> targets public administrations, judiciaries, health and in general public services. EPSU issued its response<\/a> after the European Commission published its second-phase consultation on telework and the right to disconnect in the fall of 2025.<\/p>\n

USF agrees that this agreement would provide a strong basis for EU action\u00a0on the\u00a0right to disconnect, in particular a general right\u00a0not to engage\u00a0with work communications outside working time, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 integration with occupational safety and health and working time frameworks. implementation through social dialogue with negotiated modalities, and enforcement mechanisms.<\/p>\n

More generally, USF is following closely EPSU\u2019s work on digitalisation and AI in the workplace at the EU level.<\/p>\n

EPSU attended the February meeting of social partners in central government administrations in Brussels for their first meeting of the year. Among issues discussed was the (non) implementation of \u201cthe digitalisation agreement, which is still pending. It has been more than three years now. Following the questions of the social partners, the Commission confirmed that the implementation is now linked to the publication of the Quality Job Act, expected not before the end of 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier in February, EPSU had joined a broad coalition<\/a>\u00a0calling on Members of the European Parliament, EU Member States and the European Commission to reject a proposed change in the AI Omnibus that would weaken a key transparency safeguard in the EU AI Act.<\/p>\n

In February, EPSU also participated in the ETUI Future of Work Conference\u00a0in Brussels, which\u00a0brought together researchers, trade unionists, policymakers and practitioners from across Europe to explore how digitalisation and technological transformation are reshaping work, labour relations and regulatory frameworks. A\u00a0key interdisciplinary forum, it highlights\u00a0the implications of digital tools, artificial intelligence (AI)\u00a0, and\u00a0algorithmic management\u00a0for\u00a0job quality, collective rights, occupational health and safety, and social dialogue. A prominent theme was job quality\u00a0and discussions\u00a0underscored that AI and algorithmic management should be scrutinised for their effects on work conditions, career prospects, and worker wellbeing,\u00a0emphasising the importance of worker voice, co-determination and regulatory pathways in managing AI at work.<\/p>\n

At the end of February, EPSU had signed a joint letter with 28 other civil society organisations urging EU institutions to resist digital deregulation and to enforce existing rules that protect people\u2019s rights, consumers, and fair competition. \u201cThe letter (..) warns that Europe\u2019s growing dependence on a handful of dominant platforms leaves the digital backbone of society vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

In November 2025, EPSU joined 126 civil society organisations, unions and public-interest groups urging the European Commission to\u00a0rethink its forthcoming \u201cDigital Omnibus\u201d,<\/a> as the proposals would reopen and weaken cornerstone laws such as the GDPR, the ePrivacy framework and the AI Act.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a> on EPSU’s work on IA and digitalisation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Suzettz Saint-Marc<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>
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About the author<\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Member of USF Executive Committee from SACE ( Syndicat des Agents du Conseil de l’Europe ) as well as a member of the EPSU Executive Committee from USF.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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