Australia union seeks urgent talks with WiseTech over AI‑driven job cuts

Feb 26 (Reuters) - An ‌Australian trade ​union ​has sought an urgent meeting with WiseTech Global after the ‌software firm announced it would cut about ⁠2,000 jobs as part of a two‑year artificial ‌intelligence-linked restructuring.

Professionals Australia, ‌which represents tech and engineering workers, said on Thursday that WiseTech is required ​to consult staff and the union before implementing major workplace changes and must ⁠provide written details on how the new AI systems ​will be deployed, their likely impact on jobs, and measures to avoid ​or reduce redundancies.

Sydney‑based WiseTech, ‌which makes shipping and logistics management software, said on Wednesday it ⁠plans to integrate AI into its customer software as well as internal operations, affecting ⁠around 29% of its global workforce of around 7,000 ​people across 40 countries.

"The introduction of AI on this scale is clearly a major workplace change," ‌said Professionals Australia Director Paul Inglis, adding that consultation must ‌include transparency on the scope of job ⁠reductions and genuine ‌consideration of alternatives ​such as redeployment and retraining.

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Mrigank ‌Dhaniwala)

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