There is no dispute over certain fundamentals for example that port sector unions have made a positive difference in pursuit of improving health and safety in the workplace. But when it comes to modernising the workplace and especially the introduction of new technology is their approach more geared to digging in and protecting jobs today rather than facilitating changes that have the potential to make a business stronger and more competitive over the longer term?
This area of challenge is increasingly rising to prominence as digitalisation has advanced with this accelerating under pandemic conditions. The big question is, therefore, is there a tangible route away from what promises to be a polarisation of views leading to increased incidences of serious conflict between employers and labour representative unions?
Nothing is certain yet but there is now a project underway which may help signpost the way ahead. While not a mainstream port sector project, it is one that potentially offers useful lessons.
Digital SME, the recognised largest network of Information Communication Technology (ICT) SMEs in Europe, Confimi Industria, the Italian employers association, and trade unions have jointly recently launched a scheme aimed at formulating ‘‘labour agreements for the digital age.”
The so-called Digital SME Alliance will focus on what it calls “two crucial improvements to collective labour agreements,” namely, “smart working models and a strong emphasis on digital skills at the workplace.”
The dialogue on these key issues will be enhanced by bringing together Italian and European experts, researchers and social partners with the specific objective of discussing how outdated labour agreements can be upgraded to meet the requirements of the digital age.
Participants will include the labour research centre ADAPT Associazione and trade union FIM-CISL Veneto supported by IndustriALL Europe, an umbrella organisation representing independent and democratic trade unions.
As a first step towards modernising labour agreements, the project partners will establish a European stakeholder board consisting of experts from employer and employee associations. The stakeholder board will develop specific recommendations on how to include smart working provisions and a strong emphasis on digital skills development in labour agreements with the aim of ensuring that both businesses and workers benefit.
The project commenced in March and is scheduled to run for 18 months. Let’s hope it identifies the basis for positive collaboration not confrontation.