AUTOMATION, LEISURE AND THE UNIONS
'
byW. A. WiO?" Secretary,
T.U.C. Non-Manual Workers
is now passing through a Industrial Revolution, but one occurring mainly in our offices. Is this development to be welcomed?or feared, as the first Industrial Revolution was? This time we will not have Luddism, and the smashing of new machines. The introduction to the T.U.C. report on "Automation in the Office"* stated clearly that automation can lead to better living standards for all workers, though it is well worth remembering that, in the offices themselves, the staffs have only just achieved legal provision on Health, Welfare and Safety, the Act introducing them becoming effective on August 1st this year. Firms are investing much capital in the installation of computers, whose costs vary from ?100,000 to aboui ?2m. Before actually installing a computer, managements must give much time to research and planning over a long period, but there is little evidence so far of research into the effects of such changes on the staffs. Little is at present known of the effects of technological change on workersand their families. This is understandable, as the first commercial computer did not go into service until 1954.
THIS country second
New
generation
Without going into technicalities about the work which computers can do ?and a new generation of machines is born every three or four years?we do know managements consider that, to be economical, they should be in use for 20 hours a day. Already, clerical workers are having to adjust themselves to unusual hours, and some unions are negotiating agreements concerning shift In at least one and week-end work. case, night working is also envisaged. Of course, managements look for reductions in staff when the machine can do so much more, and more quickly. *See Book
Reviews, p. 160.
Advisory
Co fit
At present, the cost of equipn^' s such that only the larger organist' |, are able to afford this new status Therefore, clerical staff made redun0 j through automation are usually s alternative employment with the t5 firm. When, however, manage111 ^ find cheaper machines available. ^ staffs of smaller concerns will Pr0 'als be faced with considerable disrn1? ^ At present, it is jobs and not ind'vl
'
byW. A. WiO?" Secretary,
T.U.C. Non-Manual Workers
is now passing through a Industrial Revolution, but one occurring mainly in our offices. Is this development to be welcomed?or feared, as the first Industrial Revolution was? This time we will not have Luddism, and the smashing of new machines. The introduction to the T.U.C. report on "Automation in the Office"* stated clearly that automation can lead to better living standards for all workers, though it is well worth remembering that, in the offices themselves, the staffs have only just achieved legal provision on Health, Welfare and Safety, the Act introducing them becoming effective on August 1st this year. Firms are investing much capital in the installation of computers, whose costs vary from ?100,000 to aboui ?2m. Before actually installing a computer, managements must give much time to research and planning over a long period, but there is little evidence so far of research into the effects of such changes on the staffs. Little is at present known of the effects of technological change on workersand their families. This is understandable, as the first commercial computer did not go into service until 1954.
THIS country second
New
generation
Without going into technicalities about the work which computers can do ?and a new generation of machines is born every three or four years?we do know managements consider that, to be economical, they should be in use for 20 hours a day. Already, clerical workers are having to adjust themselves to unusual hours, and some unions are negotiating agreements concerning shift In at least one and week-end work. case, night working is also envisaged. Of course, managements look for reductions in staff when the machine can do so much more, and more quickly. *See Book
Reviews, p. 160.
Advisory
Co fit
At present, the cost of equipn^' s such that only the larger organist' |, are able to afford this new status Therefore, clerical staff made redun0 j through automation are usually s alternative employment with the t5 firm. When, however, manage111 ^ find cheaper machines available. ^ staffs of smaller concerns will Pr0 'als be faced with considerable disrn1? ^ At present, it is jobs and not ind'vl
