A successful data strategy needs partnership between workers and employers

The government has today launched its National Data Strategy at London Tech Week.

The purpose of the strategy is to drive growth using data but it has very little reference to those who will drive that growth – workers.

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy, responded:

“A well-thought-out and deliverable data strategy is essential for the fairness and future prosperity of our country.

“Missing from today’s strategy is any recognition of the importance of data in the workplace and how the relationship between workers, employers and data will come to shape our working lives. A passing reference to transparency will not cut it.

“With increasing concerns about unaccountable and automated decisions we need a partnership between workers and employers to ensure both an effective use of data and workforce buy-in. This must include a recognition of the collective rights workers have over their data.

“We have already seen with the exams fiasco how algorithms remove the individual from decision making and entrench bias – this cannot be allowed to proliferate across the economy.

“Nearly all of us will see our jobs change through digital and technology – unions can help to make that a positive and profitable change but only if you listen to us. This is too important to get wrong.”