AUTOMATION

what should

the labor movement

DO?

George Harris is the secretary-treasurer of the
United Electrical Workers Union. In this article he
answers the Tribune's questions on the effects and

possible effects of automation.

“This story of yours is ex-
cellent, Slingbilge . . . What
an imagination!”

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“Now the damned thing is demanding three weeks’ vacation

with oil.”

—PUNCH
“You men should look at

both sides of automation—
think of me all alone in this
big plant.”

-ernment board or commissi0

_cess, much less than the “defe?

What evidence is there of the
eating character of automation?

E THIS period of high economic #®
ity there is a sizeable number 4

employed. Government statistics 2 he
an average of 324,000 unemploy® pk
964. There were 176,000 jobless 19° iit
tember, 1965, which is the peak
for seasonal employment. Seasel
adjusted figures for 1965 will pie™
show well over 250,000 unemployé
the average.

These are figures released by us ;
eral government. They do not take’
account large numbers who are
ed as having withdrawn from the ®
force but who, in fact, are simply”
eligible for unemployment insural™,
not registered with the Nation®
ployment Service. ?

Labor productivity is increasing ba
ly. Figures recently released PY.
Dominion Bureau of Statistics 7
output per man hour as being 3 PY
higher than in 1963, and output pet
son employed as 2.6 percent grealet

Unemployment and labor produ
are closely associated with the
logical revolution — in Canada
through continual improveme’ |
mechanization and methods and,
now, the very limited introducl
automation.

—_

How are trade unions tackling,
problem of automation in negolit” ul
and in contracts? eG

Ms. unions are making ve f
which in one form or anoth AL | te
to cushion workers against inti

severence from the labor force:

Severence pay, supplementaty
ployment benefits, higher am :
pensions, mechanization funds ' % |,
antee minimum employment °F ,
to the present work force are ex

These demands are importa h
they do not represent the type ( it li
lenge necessary — that is, tO jim
employer's right to mechanize ane
mate until full investigation sf d

effect on labor and the public ™ jm

The shorter work week, the oble q
of employers to negotiate with of t
on work loads and to consult Pid I
the introduction of the new PY it j
more paid holidays, extended vir he

fects of mechanization and au q
By and large the demands are 4° ,
they anticipate labor dislocatl® I,

and limitation on overtime are | :
in the direction of maintainin& ". jf
est possible work force and ™
layoffs. ‘ |
These demands appear in union

gaining programs; but they have ay
met with any appreciable degre idl

ot
mands. It is important that thé be
tection demands be given PHO a
become the centre of the %

the bargaining front.

How has your own union dee
these problems?

E HAVE placed major enol
the need to reduce Ww
through a shorter work

total work year. fet {
It is evident that the shor cot

week or its equivalent must oh if.
labor-movement demand mv wf
way the demand for the 460

was in the late 1940’s an

My union is directing ™ ref
tention to the management
es in collective agreements.
es severely limit the ability
ers to effectively protect W
ing conditions and jobs. — al "

For example, an accompa” |

f i
rages fi

November 12, 1965—PACIFIC TRIBUNE