TUC’s AI Manifesto for Creative Workers: Key Takeaways and Next Steps for Employees

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and the creative sector is no exception. Unfortunately, while AI tools provide new innovation opportunities, legislators are struggling to keep up. This has consequently led to concerns about job security, intellectual property rights, and ethical standards, prompting the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to introduce its AI Manifesto.

The TUC hopes its efforts will help protect creative workers and ensure that AI technology is used fairly and transparently. Below, we examine what the Manifesto comprises, including the values it hopes to instill, and look at how employees in the creative industries can best prepare for changes to the law.

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Key Issues Addressed by the AI Manifesto for Creative Workers

The AI Manifesto is a policy document developed by the TUC in collaboration with unions like Equity. Specifically, it addresses legal and ethical concerns arising from the use of AI technology in creative industries. Covering a wide range of professionals—including writers, performers, voice actors, and educators—this document focuses on strengthening legal protections to ensure their rights aren’t undermined.

Some of the key issues the Manifesto looks to tackle include:

  • Unlawful Use of Creatives’ Intellectual Property – There have been numerous instances where creative professionals, such as voice actors, have raised concerns about their work being used without their knowledge or consent.
  • Unfair Contracts – Some creative professionals have been pressured into contracts that demand lifelong rights over their likeness, later losing their jobs if they refuse to accept.
  • Legal Protection – Where creative professionals find AI tools breaching their rights, there’s currently no clear way to seek legal redress.

By advocating for such principles, the document aims to ensure that the creative industry benefits from AI help. At the same time, it seeks to prevent creatives from being replaced or treated unfairly. With an additional recommendation for a government-led AI taskforce, the TUC hopes measures will be implemented to protect the livelihoods of creatives in the sector.

Core Values of the AI Manifesto

Several core values make up the AI Manifesto, promoting the ideology that artificial intelligence should support, rather than exploit, creative workers. These principles form the basis from which legal and policy changes should be made to help foster a more balanced and ethical working environment. Below are some of the notable ones.

Transparency and Accountability

A significant issue creative professionals face concerns their understanding of when their work is being used to train AI technology. Too often, this information isn’t disclosed, meaning workers in the industry have no idea how their intellectual property is being used. The TUC’s Manifesto looks to address this by calling for clear disclosures from technology developers, ensuring that employees understand:

  • What data is being used to train AI
  • How AI-generated content is created
  • The commercial and legal implications of AI-driven processes

The TUC believes that fostering such transparency will allow creative workers to make informed decisions about their rights in an AI-driven industry.

Consent Over Creative Work

Some AI contracts require workers to sign away their rights indefinitely. This means their likeness or voice could be used perpetually without further payment. Sadly, this was the case for one Equity member, Leonor Lemee, who lost her job when she refused to sign. To prevent further such exploitation, the AI Manifesto pushes for an opt-in system to provide creatives greater control over their work.

Ethical AI Development and Regulation

With the speed at which AI tools are transforming the workplace, keeping a hold on ethical use can be difficult. With this in mind, the Manifesto advocates for an independent regulatory body to oversee the technology’s impact on the creative sector. Should such a body be established, it could:

  • Analyse the benefits and risks of AI help
  • Ensure AI systems adhere to the legal and regulatory standards in place
  • Provide guidance on AI-related employment policies

By establishing an independent regulatory body, the TUC aims to reduce the unethical use of artificial intelligence.

Accessible Legal Redress and Rights Enforcement

Creative workers can struggle to enforce their rights due to complex legal systems and high costs. While Equity member David Holt successfully had his voice removed from an AI platform that used it without consent, he noted that many peers weren’t as fortunate.

Because of this, the TUC has called for the government to introduce “user-friendly forums” where workers can seek redress for AI-related disputes. In practice, this would enable creatives to challenge infringement of their intellectual property without substantial legal costs.

Training and Upskilling for Workers

The speed at which AI technology transforms doesn’t just pose an issue for regulators. Workers in the creative industry must remain informed about any changes. Unfortunately, keeping up can be just as difficult for workers as it is for legislators.

Because of this, the AI Manifesto encourages the government to provide training programmes that help employees develop relevant skills. This training would need to be sector-specific, catering to the individual needs of different workers, accessible to freelancers, and regularly updated to remain relevant.

AI Manifesto: How Creative Workers Can Protect Their Rights

As the UK government and trade unions negotiate AI regulations, employees in the creative sector must stay informed and proactive. Here are some key steps workers can take to protect their rights and adapt to the evolving AI landscape.

  1. Read contracts carefully and negotiate AI clauses so that rights aren’t perpetually signed away and work remains fair.
  2. Join a union that actively works to prevent creative worker exploitation and provides updates on industry changes.
  3. Advocate for artificial intelligence regulation so that unethical practices are brought to the public’s attention and the government understands worker needs.
  4. Take advantage of AI tools so that efficiency can be improved and one can stand out from the competition.
  5. Monitor employment law changes so that new rights can be understood and enforced.

The above isn’t a comprehensive list, though. So, if you have any questions concerning the AI manifesto or your employment rights, please contact Redmans Solicitors. As employment law specialists, we can discuss your circumstances, answer your queries, and provide advice on your possible next steps.

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