Overview
- Emma Kingdon has been elected president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and will work alongside newly appointed secretary Melissa Donnelly.
- Kingdon says AI is already automating whole jobs, is being used for worker surveillance, and must be regulated so employers consult staff before introducing systems that affect rosters or roles.
- She identified the cost of living as the top issue for workers and pledged to push for higher wage growth and measures such as remote work options and shorter workweeks.
- Kingdon criticised recent employer job cuts, pointing to National Australia Bank's plan to cut about 2,500 roles as an example of decisions unions argue worsen the living-cost squeeze.
- Her election follows a decade of union organising and a recent role overseeing the CFMEU administration, and it positions the ACTU to press the government and employers for stronger rules on AI, pay and worker consultation.