Training and retraining guarantees in technology transitions

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This section highlights contract provisions that establish baseline guarantees for training and retraining when new technologies are introduced or existing job roles are significantly altered. These provisions ensure that employees have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to operate new systems, transition to newly created or modified roles, or qualify for redeployment following displacement. In doing so, they help maintain employment continuity, support upskilling, and mitigate the risks of technological job loss.

The examples below are grouped into five common categories of training guarantees:

• Training on newly introduced technologies: Ensures employees are trained to use new tools or systems being deployed in their current roles.
• Training for maintenance, repair, or operation of new technologies: Provides classification-specific training on maintaining or operating new technologies integrated into existing equipment or workflows.
• Training for new or changed job positions due to technology: Prepares workers to qualify for new or substantially modified roles that result from technological change.
• Retraining for displaced and redeployed workers: Offers training to employees whose roles are eliminated or downgraded, supporting internal redeployment or external reemployment.
• Technology training refreshers: Promotes continued competency through regular refresher courses and targeted retraining on current technologies.

Training on newly introduced technologies 

These provisions require employers to offer training when new equipment or systems are introduced, ensuring employees can adapt without loss of position or pay.

Examples:

• “When any new equipment or technology is put into service by the Company, employees covered by this Agreement will be given an opportunity to become familiar with such new equipment without change of classification or rate of pay.” (IAMAW-PCBA50)
• “The Company shall fully explain any new technology – and fully train the affected employees before the implementation of said technology as described in this Section.” (ATU-OLMS90)
• “The Company will make training available to its employees so that they may have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills required by the introduction of new technology.” (IAMAW-OLMS16)
• “As new equipment and technology are introduced into the system, employees affected will be given training (classroom, online, electronic and/or on-the-job) concerning such equipment to gain proficiency in their work.” (IAMAW-PCBA52)
• “The Employer and the Union recognize that technological change involving certain automated equipment is now available to the food industry. In recognition of this, the parties agree that … any training or necessary retraining will be furnished, expense free, by the Employer to affected Associates.” (UFCW-OLMS76)

Training for maintenance, repair, or operation of new technologies 

Clauses in this category ensure that bargaining unit members receive appropriate technical training to operate and maintain new systems that supplement or replace traditional work processes.

Examples:

• “If new technologies require human operation of the machines, the machine shall be operated and maintained by bargaining unit employees and the employer shall train employees in the affected classification to operate and maintain them.” (IAMAW-PCBA50)
• “When new equipment or technology is put into service by the Company, employees shall be given the opportunity to be trained, by particular classification, on the new equipment or technology whenever that equipment is maintained or repaired by the Company or the technology is utilized in the maintenance or repair of such equipment by the Company. The Company will make every effort to train sufficient numbers of employees to accomplish this.” (TWU-IAM-PCBA37)

Training for new or changed job positions due to technology

These agreements anticipate job transformation by guaranteeing that employees receive the training needed to perform in new or significantly altered roles caused by technological change.

Examples:

• “The Company will make training available to qualify employees to perform the new or changed work resulting from new technology introduction.” (IAMAW-OLMS16)
• “It is mutually agreed that present employees shall be given first consideration for any new or changed position before any persons outside the bargaining unit are hired to fill the resultant jobs. In the event training is necessary for employees to qualify for such positions, the employer will provide adequate training to all affected employees at the time the technology is implemented.” (OPEIU-OLMS91)
• “If a technological change creates new work that replaces, enhances or modifies bargaining unit work, bargaining unit employees will perform that new or modified work. The Employer shall provide bargaining unit employees with training required to utilize the new technology, if necessary.” (IBT-PCBA7)

Retraining for displaced and redeployed workers 

Provisions here focus on preparing employees for redeployment or transition to other roles following displacement due to automation or restructuring.

Examples:

• “Job Displacement training programs will be designed and will be offered to regular employees whose jobs are being displaced or whose jobs are being restructured to a wage schedule with a lower maximum wage rate in order to enhance the ability of such employees to qualify for anticipated non-management job vacancies within the Company.” (CWA-PCBA44)
• “An employee directly affected by “new technology” as defined above will be offered retraining preference for a job for which the Company foresees a requirement, provided that equivalent job opportunities are not available and that they have the basic knowledge for the retraining.” (IAMAW-OLMS17)
• “Displaced Employees will receive up to one hundred sixty 160 hours paid training time for vacant positions for which an Employee can qualify with such training.” (SEIU-UHW-PCBA29)
• “The [joint labor management] Quality Through Training Program (QTTP) exists to support the parties’ mutual objectives and will target training: (1) for employees who may be impacted or their job duties and responsibilities affected by technology changes, manufacturing process changes, and/or job combinations; (2) for employees who wish to meet their individual career/personal development goals; (3) for laid-off employees to enable them to become better qualified for employment within or outside the Company; and (4) to enhance employee workplace knowledge and skills (academic, employability, occupational and technical).” (IAMAW-PCBA54)
• “To the extent practicable and within available training resources, the department shall arrange for counseling, education, and training of employees as may be reasonably needed to prepare them for placement in other State civil service positions when the employee’s positions have been and are about to be changed substantially or eliminated by automation, technological changes or other management initiated changes.” (SEIU-PCBA84)

Technology training refreshers

Some agreements include regular or as-needed training updates to ensure employees maintain technical proficiency on current or evolving workplace technologies.

Examples:

• “Employees will be provided with adequate training when assigned to new posts or when using new technology. Refresher courses in all these areas will be made available on a regular basis.” (TNG-CWA-PCBA34)
• “The Company will also provide “problem area” training to employees as needed on currently used equipment so that employee skills shall remain at a high level of competency.” (IAMAW-PCBA50)

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