200 union leaders meet in Copenhagen as artificial intelligence (AI), algorithmic management and digital business models reshape work at unprecedented speed.
Trade unions from across Europe will gather in Copenhagen this week to set their strategic direction for the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) sector as artificial intelligence (AI), algorithmic management and digital business models reshape work at unprecedented speed.
Around 200 trade union leaders, worker representatives and experts are attending the four‑yearly conference of UNI Europa’s ICTS sector, the largest meeting of ICT‑industry unions in Europe, representing more than three million workers in telecommunications, IT, digital services, games and business services.
Under the theme “Real Say, More Pay – Forward through Collective Bargaining”, the conference will focus on how workers can gain real influence over the technologies and business decisions that are transforming their jobs, pay and working conditions.
“Across Europe, new technologies are being introduced far faster than workers’ rights and protections,” said Daniel Hügli, President of UNI Europa ICTS. “Trade unions are seeing unfair automated dismissals, intrusive workplace surveillance, opaque algorithmic decision‑making and rising workloads driven by digital management tools. Without regulation, social dialogue and collective bargaining, AI risks undermining job quality and trust at work. This conference is about ensuring workers have real power and a real say in the digital transition.”
From organising to collective bargaining
Over two days, delegates will highlight recent wins and set a course for a just technological transition across Europe. They will emphasise recent growth in worker organising in the games sector, multinational telecoms companies and digital services.
Sessions will examine how organising can be translated into stronger collective bargaining to deliver higher pay, protections against abusive algorithmic management and AI, and fair working conditions across increasingly fragmented digital supply chains.
Recent examples from Italy and Spain, where trade unions have negotiated collective agreements addressing the use of AI and algorithmic systems in IT and telecoms, will be discussed as practical models for wider roll‑out.
“These agreements show that workers are not powerless in the face of new technologies,” said Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa. “Through collective bargaining, workers can monitor algorithmic systems, challenge the most harmful tools and shape how AI is used in the workplace. Legislation alone cannot keep pace with technological change – but collective bargaining can deliver real regulation on the ground.”
Shaping technological change
A central focus of the conference is the role of social partners and lawmakers in shaping technological change in the public interest. A high‑level panel will bring together trade unions, employers and policymakers, including Members of the European Parliament.
One of the keynote speakers is Professor Valerio De Stefano, a leading international expert on labour law, AI and algorithmic management, who has advised the European Parliament, the ILO and the OECD.
“AI at work is not only about innovation and productivity,” De Stefano said. “It is also about power: who directs, monitors and disciplines workers. Without strong worker voice and collective representation, these technologies risk reinforcing unilateral managerial control and weakening democracy in the workplace.”
Decisions for the next five years
Beyond debate and exchange, the conference will take key decisions for the European ICT union movement. Delegates will review activities from 2021–2026, adopt strategic priorities for 2026–2031, debate and vote on resolutions, and elect a new leadership for UNI Europa ICTS.
Guest speakers at the conference include Marianne Vind, Member of the European Parliament (S&D, Denmark); Andreas Keil, Mayor for Employment in Copenhagen; leaders of Danish and European trade unions; and representatives from across Europe’s ICT, telecoms and services sectors.
As digitalisation accelerates across Europe’s economy, the conference aims to send a clear message: technological change must be shaped through collective bargaining, strong regulation and organised worker power – not imposed unilaterally by employers or algorithms.
UNI Europa is the European arm of UNI Global Union. UNI is a federation representing over 20 million service workers in 150 countries.
