Agreements on new technology ‘still few’

Press, 24 November 1980, Page 15

Agreements on new technology ‘still few’

Ninety per cent of workplaces in Norway are now ‘ covered by agreements on new technology, while in New Zealand few agreements have been reached, a seminar in Christchurch has been told. Professor K. Nygaard, of the Norwegian Computer Centre, said that main provisions . of the . agree-_

ments were the right. of Employees to information about the systems being introduced and to retraining, and the right to participate in systems development. Mr A. Pringle, South Island field officer of the Insurance Workers’ Union, said that in New Zealand few agreements had been reached on new technology. Professor Nygaard said that a number of European unions had realised that they, nefeded to build up an insight into the new technology, and in Britain the Trade Union Congress had achieved a ... joint accord with the employers on the broad outline of agreement on new. technology. • ' He said that- ■> while unemployment was an issue frequently raised in connection with .computers. he preferred to concentrate on employment and how the technology affected jobs and how they developed. More emphasis should be put on aims such as recognition of skill, the rights of workers to’ffee week-ends, and co-operation between workers on a hitman level. Mr Pringle said that the trade union movement was not opposed to the introduction of new' technology and recognised it had a place to play in improving standards of living and economic growth. But how it was introduced and who would control its use was of concern to unions. The unions would onnose the idea of economic growth and profitability at all costs. Employers were doing little more than agreeing to discuss new technology because they felt its introduction was one of the things sacred to management’s rights. The unions felt that where there were social and political effects it was of 'concern >to them, too. Mr F. Dickson, general manager of the Canterbury Savings Bank, said that, computers were essential to the bank, which was now getting 30 ner cent more in processing power for one-third of the price paid five years ago. Staff at all leve’s had been involved in the introduction ■of computers and their reaction had been that they did not know how they had got by without them. Staff numbers were continuing to increase. The seminar was sponsored by the New Zealand Computer Society and the Industrial Relatim-s Centre of the Victoria University of Wellington. ;