Technology-related safety, health, and accommodation
Negotiating Tech: An Inventory of U.S. Union Contract Provisions for the Digital Age
Employer commitments in technology implementation
3.3 Technology-related safety, health, and accommodation
This section highlights contractual provisions that address the physical, psychological, and accessibility-related impacts of workplace technologies. As digital systems, automation, and AI tools are integrated into job tasks, unions have negotiated protections to ensure safe and equitable working conditions. These agreements promote ergonomic design, system maintenance, risk management, protection from digital harms, and accommodations for workers with specific physical or health-related needs.
Examples are grouped into the following categories:
- 3.3.a Ergonomic and physical safety protections: Provisions addressing the design, procurement, and setup of technology and equipment to prevent strain, injury, and unsafe working conditions.
- 3.3.b Technology risk management, maintenance, and safety training: Clauses focused on identifying and mitigating risks associated with technology systems through inspections, maintenance protocols, and health and safety training.
- 3.3.c Digital and psychological safety: Agreements that protect workers from emerging forms of harm such as online harassment and excessive workload from digital systems.
- 3.3.d Reasonable accommodation and accessibility: Provisions ensuring that workers with disabilities or pregnancy-related needs receive necessary accommodations, including assistive technologies, reassignment, and equitable access to digital tools and work environments.