PCS calls for formal talks with Cabinet Office on AI

As artificial intelligence systems are being introduced into a range of civil service functions, and their use is expected to grow significantly PCS has called for substantive national‑level discussions on AI within the civil service.

Our assistant general secretary John Moloney has written to Simon Claydon, Cabinet Office director of civil service pay, policy and pensions, proposing an agreement which sets out a constructive, practical framework to ensure that AI and robotics are introduced in a way that protects staff, supports good work, and ensures that technology delivers genuine public value. It also aligns with the shared interests of both sides: to make sure AI improves work, maintains fairness, and avoids decisions that could adversely affect staff or citizens.

Our key demands are:

1. Union consultation and approval 

  • No AI or robotics system may be introduced or redesigned without early consultation and agreement with unions. 
  • All existing systems must be disclosed. 

2. Restrictions on AI use 

  • AI cannot make decisions affecting staff, automate decision‑making, supervise or monitor workers, or generate reports without human oversight. 
  • AI must not impersonate a human. 

3. Job protection 

  • No job losses, redundancies, or downgrades as a result of AI. 
  • AI should improve work, not dehumanise it. 

4. Mandatory information before rollout 

  • Departments must provide unions with: Equality and privacy assessments; a job impact assessment; redeployment and training plans, a health and safety assessment; industrial relations plan, including a stop‑action clause to pause deployment and advance sight of communications to staff.

5. Training and career development

  • Commitment to a framework for reskilling and upskilling staff as AI changes roles. 

6. Sharing productivity gains 

  • Productivity benefits from AI should translate into improved pay and/or reduced working hours, including moving toward a four‑day week. 

7. Ongoing oversight 

  • Regular reviews of AI systems and no changes to the agreement without union consent. 

To take forward our demands, we have called for a meeting with the Cabinet Office at the earliest opportunity to discuss the agreement and to establish the process for national‑level engagement. We see this as an opportunity for the civil service to demonstrate leadership and to put in place sensible, ethical, and transparent safeguards at a time when many organisations are grappling with the same challenges.

PCS looks forward to beginning a constructive dialogue on AI.