Warehouse distribution workers in New Zealand protested against automation and workplace monitoring practices on the job, Business and Human Rights Centre reported.
Workers First Union claimed that artificial intelligence tracked bathroom breaks, leading to staff urinating and defecating in distribution aisles. The Warehouse Group denied these allegations. The company said that its technology monitors efficiency through scanning devices and is not AI-powered.
The union is seeking contract assurances that workers cannot be easily replaced when technology arrives.
Company Denies AI Tracking
The Warehouse Group chief people officer Richard Parker said there have been no job losses as a result of stocktaking drones or goods-to-person automation.
“[T]he company will always consult with its team and look to retrain and redeploy people wherever it can,” Parker told Business and Human Rights Centre.
The Warehouse Group maintained that scanning devices measure standard operational efficiency rather than monitoring bodily functions. Union representatives maintained their position regarding the impact of digital oversight on daily shift conditions.
Contract Protections Sought
Workers First Union organizers pushed for formal agreements to protect staff from displacement as distribution centers adopt new machinery. The union focused contract negotiations on worker security amid growing deployment of automated picking systems.
Company leadership and labor representatives continued discussing workplace surveillance standards. The Warehouse Group said that current technological upgrades aim to support staff rather than replace human labor.
Workers First Union Requests Specific Guarantees
The company uses scanning devices alongside stocktaking drones and goods-to-person automation systems.
* What specific guarantees is Workers First Union requesting?
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