Unions and Technological Change

Abstract

Microelectronic technology has had a significant effect on the nature and performance of work. It has brought profound changes to almost every sphere of economic activity. Some occupations have been eliminated while others have been created. Certain jobs have been de-skilled and fragmented at the same time that others have been enhanced with greater responsibility. In general, Australian unions have tended to be cautious in their assessments of the benefits of new technology. However, there are few examples where they have tried to prevent its introduction. They have recognised that a policy of opposition would be neither practical nor desirable. Jobs may be lost through technological change but the possible employment consequences of not applying technological innovations could be more severe. An inability to compete with other industries and countries which have adopted the available technology could result in a loss of employment substantially greater than that displaced as a direct outcome of introducing new technology. Rather than opposing technological change Australian unions have attempted to develop measures which seek to ameliorate its negative effects on employment, skills and health and safety and ensure that the benefits are distributed more evenly between capital and labour. Invariably they have turned to governments and arbitration systems to give them procedural rights to participate in decisions about change and establish standards of protection for workers adversely affected by technological change.

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