Technology accepted by British, says survey

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 43

Technology accepted by British, says survey

NZPA-Reuter London New technology — computers, word processors, and other microchip — controlled machines — has won wide acceptance in British workplaces, cost relative!} 7 few jobs, and met little opposition from trade unions, according to a survey.

Entitled “Chips and Jobs,” the survey from the independent Policy Studies Institute produces evidence to dispel many myths surrounding the growing use of automation in British factories and offices.

"Acceptance of new technology at the place of work is a non-problem,” say the three authors, who base their conclusion on a study of 1200 workplaces in manufacturing industry.

They say that resistance to computerised techniques by print workers on Fleet Street, home of Britain’s national newspapers, is exceptional, although, it has

been widely publicised. Out of 776 workplaces that had introduced new technology, only 7 percent had had shop floor or union opposition as a main obstacle. Lack of qualified staff was seen as far more of a problem, mentioned by 45 per cent. “Opposition from trade unions is twice as common in France and Germany as in Britain,” said P.S.I. New technology is held responsible for only 5 per cent of the jobs lost in manufacturing industry since 1981, the survey says — an ,annual loss rate of 15,000 - 20,000 jobs. Fears that the microchip would lead to work becoming deskilled, monotonous, and impersonal, subject to more rigorous central control and exposed to new stresses and health hazards ahd in general proved to be unfounded, says P.S.I. Some 70 per cent of office staff had welcomed the in-

troduced of word processors.

On the factory floor microchips had largely failed to realise dream of eliminating “boring and repetitive . . . strenuous, noisy, dirty, dangerous or in other ways unattractive” jobs. In spite of its generally upbeat conclusions, the P.S.I. report says that the real challenge is still to come.

Only 46.9 per cent of British factories have adopted new technology compared with 50.5 per cent in West Germany, 38.1 per cent in France and more than 80 per cent in Japan.

The authors say that full acceptance will depend on negotiating change with workers, training and retraining them in the necessary new skills, and on Government policies offering those displaced the chance of a job elsewhere.