Australia union seeks urgent talks with WiseTech over AI‑driven job cuts

Feb 26 (Reuters) - An Australian trade union has sought an urgent meeting with ‌WiseTech Global after the software firm ‌announced it would cut about 2,000 jobs as part ​of a two‑year artificial intelligence-linked restructuring.

Professionals Australia, which represents tech and engineering workers, said on Thursday that WiseTech is required to consult ‌staff and the ⁠union before implementing major workplace changes and must provide written details ⁠on how the new AI systems will be deployed, their likely impact on jobs, and ​measures to ​avoid or reduce ​redundancies.

Sydney‑based WiseTech, which ‌makes shipping and logistics management software, said on Wednesday it plans to integrate AI into its customer software as well as internal operations, affecting around 29% of its global ‌workforce of around 7,000 ​people across 40 countries.

"The introduction ​of AI ​on this scale is clearly a ‌major workplace change," said ​Professionals Australia ​Director Paul Inglis, adding that consultation must include transparency on the scope of ​job reductions ‌and genuine consideration of alternatives such as ​redeployment and retraining.

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee; ​Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)