FUTURE-PROOFING TRANSPORT JOBS: UNIONS LEAD ON RESPONSIBLE AI

The Transport Workers’ Union has welcomed a landmark framework agreement between technology giant Microsoft and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), putting workers, including those in transport and logistics, at the centre of Australia’s transition to artificial intelligence.

The agreement establishes a national standard for the responsible rollout of AI in workplaces and ensures workers have a voice in how new technologies are developed, introduced and used on the job.

For transport workers facing rapid technological change, the framework represents a critical safeguard against being left behind and mirrors calls by the TWU for technology to be used to create sustainable jobs that augment workers’ capacity, rather than intensifying workloads.

The deal builds on an existing memorandum of understanding between Microsoft and Australian unions on labour rights.

The transport industry is expected to undergo significant transformation from 2026, with the introduction of autonomous vehicles, drone deliveries, warehouse robotics and AI-driven predictive analytics, according to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

These technologies have the potential to reshape how goods are moved across the country, but also raise serious questions about job security, skills and safety.

Rather than allowing AI to be imposed on workers without consultation, the agreement reinforces the role of unions in shaping how innovation is rolled out. It ensures technological progress goes hand in hand with decent jobs, fair conditions and worker protections.

The TWU is relentless in our 2026 fight for farer wages and conditions across the board, and this is a crucial step forward in our goal to equip workers with the tools they need to adapt, transition and thrive as new technologies are introduced across the sector.