tuc news Pay creators for AI training use


DELEGATES representing around 5.5 million employees throughout British industry expressed alarm at big tech’s wholesale theft of material from journalists and a wide range of other workers. The TUC congress also


attacked the government’s intention to weaken copyright law. It is feared an upcoming bill will withdraw protection from content used to train artificial intelligence (AI). Fran McNulty, NUJ joint


president, urged congress to back the union’s campaign seeking redress from big tech, which makes vast profits at the expense of copyright holders. These companies should


be forced to reveal the sources used for training data, which would allow journalists – in particular freelancers – to seek compensation, he said.


He told of a film company


that took a 3D scan of an actor’s body on his first day on set then used it in succeeding scenes, having dispensed with his services with a day’s pay. In another case, an actor


whose voice and image were fed into an AI system found this data was being used to spread misinformation by the Venezuelan government. Morgan urged delegates to


“Any upcoming legislation


must require rightsholders to opt in not opt out of the use of their work,” he said. AI should be used only with human oversight and introduced in cooperation with unions to ensure workers are protected and supported where job losses are unavoidable, he said. The potential impact of AI had been shown by the threat of 300 job losses at Reach.


Moving the resolution,


Hywel Morgan of Equity pointed out that the creative industries accounted for over 5 per cent of the UK’s gross value added in 2024, worth around £123 billion to its economy. “Creative workers are the backbone of the UK’s world-leading performing arts and entertainment industry, yet they often find themselves in precarious working conditions,” he said.


adopt the TUC’s AI for Creative Workers manifesto. He said Equity had been trying to find a solution but was now preparing for industrial action. Seconding the motion, Naomi Pohl, the Musicians’ Union general secretary, urged ministers to ensure copyright law covered music used to train AI. Otherwise, “AI- generated music will not only devalue MU members’ work – it could replace it,” she said.


Journalism now more dangerous than ever


THIS is the deadliest time for journalists in recorded history, NUJ general secretary Laura Davison told conference. Figures from the International


Federation of Journalists revealed that at least 235 journalists and media workers had been killed since October 7 2023, 221 of them Palestinian, she said.


“Let that sink in,” she urged delegates. “Two hundred and thirty- five workers killed doing their job – 235 journalists working on behalf of the world to tell us what is happening. Our eyes and ears on the ground.” Globally, in the past six years,


more than 600 journalists had been killed with nine in 10 cases remaining unpunished, she added.


Davison demanded: • An International Criminal Court


investigation into the targeting of journalists by Israeli forces, with Israeli authorities held to account • Press freedom for Gaza with


international journalists allowed access to work alongside their Palestinian colleagues ‘to whom we owe an enormous debt’.


Abuse and discrimination hit workers


FEMALE journalists are the victims of ‘appalling misogyny’ with black women especially affected, Natasha Hirst of the NUJ told congress She said the union was


constantly challenging regulators to uphold higher standards, and that the union would represent members who refused to produce work they felt breached the NUJ’s code of conduct. She added that the union had set up an online


safety tracker so members could report abuse they experienced during their work. Hirst also pointed out that


because of the insecurity of their work, NUJ members who are freelance and disabled were particularly affected by cuts to social security. “There’s no sick pay, no holiday pay and definitely no disability leave. Social security safeguards are vital to disabled people to access our


rights including our right to access employment.” She pointed out that the


cuts were happening at the same time as assisted dying legislation was going through parliament. “The government will


support us to die but not to live well,” she said. “Every time a politician undermines our humanity or presents us as a burden, it normalises hatred and discrimination and coercion of disabled people.”


theJournalist | 7 “


Any upcoming legislation must require rightsholders to opt in not opt out of the use of their work


Fran McNulty NUJ joint president


• The adoption of a binding UN


Convention on the safety and independence of media professionals. “Journalists are a vulnerable


category targeted on account of their profession,” said Davidson. Congress heard horrendous


examples of abuse, injury and death to NUJ members. She added: “No worker should have to face that; no worker should pay with their life for simply doing their job.”


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