A Review of the Role of Labor Unions in the AI Era

We are currently in the midst of a process in which AI technology is rapidly being adopted into our lives and various industries, and this is also true in the realm of labor. AI is impacting the labor sector, from employers' human resources management to workers' work methods and jobs, and its impact is expected to grow further in the future. AI has the potential to enhance productivity and improve working conditions by helping workers perform their tasks more efficiently. Furthermore, it will become a new growth engine in various industries over the next few decades, driving the transition to the AI era. The development of reliable and safe AI is essential during this transition, and preemptive measures are required to assess the impact of AI on the labor sector. In particular, inadequate protection of workers' basic rights and working conditions during the transition to the AI era could lead to a decline in the quality of labor, as well as workers becoming tools for AI and widening the gap between workers.<br/> This paper examines the role of labor unions in the AI-driven labor transition. To this end, we first examine the characteristics of AI, which differ from past technological innovations, and examine its specific applications in the labor sector and the related legal issues. We examined how major countries around the world and South Korea legally regulate the impact of AI and how labor unions are responding.<br/> Based on this, we suggested that labor unions should not be satisfied with their traditional role of improving working conditions focused on wage increases, but should expand their role to include issues related to the labor process and working environment. They should also strengthen their social activities to represent not only union members but also all workers and the public interest. Furthermore, they should actively participate in establishing a governance system that engages diverse members of society, ensuring that workers' interests are reflected in the formulation and implementation of AI-related policies. Furthermore, they should support legislation regarding the anticipated issues surrounding the use of AI in the labor sector to eliminate legal uncertainty. Until legislation is enacted, we need to secure rights related to AI through collective bargaining and collective agreements.