Washington [US], October 30: Strikes are spreading across the US and Europe, as workers continue to grapple with inflation and the growing risk of losing their jobs due to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other high technology.
The number of working days lost due to worker strikes related to labor disputes has skyrocketed in the US and UK, according to Nikkei Asia on October 29.
"We are too busy with the strike and the Conservative Party congress," according to an employee of a long-distance bus company in Manchester (UK).
The Association of Train Drivers in the UK went on strike at the annual Conservative Party conference, taking place from October 1-4. Passengers from Manchester to London by bus take 5 hours, more than double the normal time by train.
The association has denounced deteriorating working conditions, saying that real wages have fallen due to inflation. Doctors and workers in a number of other fields in the UK also went on strike in October, demanding salary increases.
In the UK, inflation rose 7.9% last year, the highest increase in 40 years. Citing the "cost of living crisis", employees in public services and other sectors have organized strikes.
The number of days lost due to strikes hit a 33-year high of 2.51 million last year and is expected to remain at a similar level this year.
In the US, the number of days off work due to strikes in the US as of August this year was 7.41 million, the highest level since 2000.
In Germany, strikes brought nearly all public transport services to a standstill at the end of March. A widespread strike wave could worsen the global economic slowdown. affected by Covid-19 and war in Ukraine.
Risk from AI
Labor disputes also reflect structural problems. Citing the need to protect jobs against the threat of artificial intelligence (AI), the Writers Guild of America organized a strike from May to September.
The SAG-AFRA association, consisting of 160,000 members from film, television and radio artists, then joined the strike in July, according to AFP. Overall, more than 4.1 working days were lost in August in the US, the highest level in 20 years.
In the auto industry, the transition to electric vehicles has become a focal point in labor negotiations. The American Auto Workers Union (UAW) on October 6 decided to cancel further strikes, after General Motors agreed to allow electric vehicle battery workers to be protected under the union contract.
Many experts are looking at ways to ensure future growth, especially focusing on the potential impact of technological innovation on jobs.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) said in May that AI and electric vehicles will likely create more jobs in the long run, compared to the number of jobs that are cut. However, WEF also found that many workers do not have the necessary skills.
Analysts say that with the current pace of technological innovation, both businesses and workers may continue to struggle to find the optimal balance between growth and job security.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper