News Investigators/ The National President of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Emeka Kalu, says Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses no threat to media and cultural workers.
Mr Kalu said this in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the ongoing 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to him, workers in the media and cultural sector have consistently adapted to technological changes and are well-positioned to leverage AI for improved productivity and efficiency.
“There is no threat that AI poses because individuals are the ones that drive whatever happens in AI. For us, we will continue to train our people and ensure that we remain on top of it,” he said.
Mr Kalu said the conference had provided fresh insights into emerging workplace issues, particularly decent work, technological transformation, collective bargaining and workers’ rights.
He said the discussions at the conference reinforced the importance of sustained collective bargaining and the right of workers to organise and belong to trade unions.
“This particular session has given credence to the sustained collective bargaining that we have and it has also given everybody the right to unionise people who work under our umbrella,” he said.
The RATTAWU president said workers in the broadcasting and creative industries had always been at the forefront of technological innovations and were prepared for the opportunities presented by AI.
According to him, broadcasters embraced digital transformation long before many other sectors and have continued to update their skills and tools in response to changing industry demands.
“We in the broadcasting industry are miles ahead of others. Before people started going digital, we were digitised.
“We do not wait for government before training our members,” he said.
Kalu said RATTAWU had prioritised strategic partnerships and continuous capacity building to ensure members remained competitive in a rapidly evolving work environment.
He described AI as a tool that would support and simplify work processes rather than replace workers, provided users acquired the necessary skills to utilise it effectively.
“AI is not a threat to any RATTAWU member. We are abreast of it. We know it. We clamour for it because it assists what we do and makes the job simpler for us,” he said.
On workers’ welfare, Kalu reiterated the union’s commitment to securing improved remuneration and better working conditions for media and cultural workers across the country.
He expressed optimism that the proposed special salary structure and welfare package for media and cultural workers would receive the necessary approval from government.
According to him, the Minister of Information and National Orientation had publicly acknowledged ongoing efforts toward improving welfare packages for workers in the sector.
“The minister made it clear that there is a package for RATTAWU members awaiting pronouncement. We came prepared and we remain committed to pursuing it,” he said.
Kalu also said housing schemes and other welfare initiatives formed part of his administration’s agenda aimed at improving the wellbeing of union members nationwide.
He noted that his leadership emerged with a clear mandate and a 12-point agenda focused on protecting the professional and economic interests of media and cultural workers.
“I came prepared. It is my duty to defend and protect the legitimate professional rights of my members. Housing for RATTAWU members is something I am already working on,” he said.
The union leader said participation in the ILC remained important for labour leaders because it offered opportunities to understand global labour policies and developments.
He added that knowledge gained from the conference would strengthen labour advocacy and help unions engage more effectively with employers and governments.
“When confidence speaks, uncertainty trembles. We have something concrete to take back from this conference and apply for the benefit of our members,” Kalu said.
NAN