The Urban Public Transport Committee’s project on autonomous vehicles in public transport continued last week, with workshops taking place in Slovakia, hosted by OZ KOVO, and the UK, hosted by Unite the Union. Both workshops brought together union reps from across the respective countries to discuss and strategise on the topic of autonomous vehicles.
Several key issues were raised by participants. Concerns included the location and qualification of remote supervisors, the workers that will have to monitor the operations of autonomous vehicles, as well as how AV operators will provide assistance and ensure the safety of vulnerable passengers after the driver is removed.
The consequences of AV introduction on maintenance staff was also a key issue. Maintenance facilities already face severe labour shortages, and the introduction of AVs will require new skills for dealing with high-voltages, complex sensors, and software. These skills are already in short supply. Without improving the attractiveness of the urban public transport sector through better wages and working conditions, AV operators will simply not be able to find sufficient staff.
All participants agreed that UPT workers must have a seat at the table when it comes to such a monumental change for the sector. Governments, cities and employers must work together with workers and their unions to use AV technology to improve public transport services for citizens and raise job quality for workers.
ETF’s work on the topic continues with further workshops across Europe as part of a project, supported financially by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Centre on the Future of Work, that aims to prepare ETF affiliates for the deployment of AVs in UPT.
