*THOSE directly affected by technological change must be assured that they will be among the SILBERMAN examines what this assurance is worth, how silicon chips are being used to digest preperation AS the trade union and labour leaders are well aware, of the technology has already met with some resistance from the workers' movement.
Post Office engineers took strike action last year to back their demand for a 35-hour week. In the newspaper industry, trade unionists have least slowed down the introduction BEne technology.
AUTO throughout society there is a growing concern about the social consequences of the new industrial revolution.
But the response Callaghan, Murray and Co. to prospect of millions unemployed over the coming ten years has been...to go along with it!
The government has been at pains to point out that it has "saved' around 300,000 jobs through its various subsidies, training schemes and the like.
But these are little more than cosmetics, when the Concordat's central message is the need to increase productivity -of both capital and labour *Minister for Unemployment' Albert Booth put it more bluntiv. 'As with computers, micro-electronic technology can often replace people. Why in such circumstances should the government promote applications of it?" he asked 'If our competitors boost productivity and reduce costs by employing new techniques,' Booth explained, 'then we have no option.
Needless to say, the criteria of productivity and profitability play completely into the hands of the employers.
The Concordat would have us believe otherwise. Among the benefits will be shorter working improved conditions of work and better education. But those directly affected by technological change must be assured that they will be beneficiaries.
What are these assurances worth? At last year's TUC, Congress adopted policy for the 35-hour week. But General Council gave support whatever to the Ford workers, the public sector manual workers and others who have tried to achieve it. As long ago as 1972 the TUC adopted policy of nationalisation of the computer industry - another resolution to find its way into the dustbin.
As for better education', the Labour government presided over huge cuts schools.
The Concordat claims and control jobs, and the impact on women's employment.
'concern', but the Labour the government is really pouring massive finance into developing the new technology. December government had £400 million -to or vale industry develop or use the chips. And the TUC General Council has gone along with it.
genuine concern existed about the social effects of the technology then would be TUC measures to deal with the problem unemployment. of Firms declaring redunancies or threatening massive job of loss through these new gadgets should not be given hand-outs, but nationalised without compensation. By placing under workers' control, hours could be cut to save jobs. Lucas plan has shown how socially useful products could take the place production for profit.
This could be combined, for instance, programme of house construcgive jobs hundreds of thousands unemployed building workers Instead of the Concordat's green light to rationalisation, a workers' plan is needed to beat the crisis based promoting mass around such socialist policies. Action now on the 35-hour week - including the call for government action - could be just the springboard needed. By Challenge's trade union conference, JONATHAN
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Socialist Challenge 5 April 1979 page 10 beneficiaries', states the TUC-government Concordat. Socialist