*THE WHITE HEAT of the technological revolution', which promised imminent prosperity for all, was Harold Wilson's catch phrase in the mia-sixtes. As one of the most unfulfilled prophecies of this century it ranks alongside peace in our time, 'Mr Hitler is a reasonable man', or even the 'we will cut prices at a stroke.
This new technology was never harnessed for the well-being of all.
increasing numbers manual and white collar workers found themselves threatened and disillusioned. technological dream was transformed into a nightmare.
The press of the mid sixties made many predicuons. Autondtion and technological innovation were to lead to more and cheaper commoclues. une masses WCIC LU enjoy a shorter working week and more leisure time.
Oute the reverse was true tor workers whose industries became automated and de-skilled. them it was the sack and the beginning of structural unemployment. Those lucky enough to keep TCI1003 frantic working tempo and shift were coerced into work. This was necessary if the new capital intensive macninery was to be fully exploited. It meant ine wind or change blew straight into the pockets of shareholders.
MISUSE Since that time - 15 years ago misuse of technology by capitalist society has created an ever-increasing gap. The possibilities of what technology provide for the benefit of the community does not at all match up to what it is allowed to provide.
Todav we have a level of technology which produced Concorde. Yet people are allowed to die of hypothermia for want of cheap urban heating svstems. Renal tail ures also cause death for want of machines.
Kidney naemocralysis This continues when thousands of scientists and engineers are allowed to rot in the dole queue.
There is a chronic shortage of schools, houses and hospitals toYet building workers ddy. unemployed. The contradictions endless. In our capitalist society, science and technology which could provide a national nase-or a miner existence oralis being retarded. Contemporary capitalist society is incapable of providing an economic framework In WAICH to organise the vast social production, brought about by the last 20 years orchnolorical duvance INVENTION History shows that social change has always followed invention and innovation. The present 'crisis is a manifestation of impending social ane economic chance.
capable of harnessing science and technology to produc tion for social need, rather than for private protit. is on the agenda.
What has been the response of the trade unions and labour movement to these changes? The Lucas Aerospace and Defence Systems Combine Shop Stewards' mittee has produced a plan *Corporate Plan -strategy to recession and redun dancies'.
Combine Committee Is unique in the British trade union grew up in the late sixties as a direct result of the white heat of the technological revolution. members found this simply to be burning up their jobs. So far, the Committee has successful preventing sackings 'à la Weinstock'.
The Combine recognised in early 1974 — following the energy crisis - that a world wide contradiction in the high technology aerospace of industry was imminent.
secunity or our trade umon mem bers within Lucas such a development. The proposed nationalisaton - and undoubtedly, rationalisation as well - of the British Aerospace industry with the return Government, and its accompanying prospect of defence cuts. This For our vitation for articles and debate on 'alternative technology'.
compounded the problem.
Our policy of the left and most trade Detence CUTS wnHe neat UnIONS TOr -years measure of the bankruptcy of our oCen political and union leaders that direct they have never had any proposals for alternative work.
RETENTION The job When defence cuts have made, union leaders have Aerospace tably argued for the retention affected the project itself to protect members jobs. Thus, our mem bers have always been presented with the false choice between milicame tary production or the dole. of the Labour The Combine's Corporate Plan was compiled in an attempt to resolve these problems. It is a 1200 Burnley nave been Wing facilities But it is a industry. transport and braking their sophy of job conterted Masse meaningtul than human body. media response has received document which Drovides alternative work. terenes on exist and skills of the worktorce or Enis nigh tecanologs America.
Lucas It projects the manufacture of socially useful products for the benefit of the community in such areas as medical engineering, alternative energy technologies, Icing." micro processors and others.
The Plan also contains propo sals for changes in methods work. It goes beyond the philo space factories.
enrichment DIan uch as the better butte Corporate Plan, COWS 1 It is based on the country's greatest taken on site - the skill, ingenuity and creativity of its workforce. plan tries to break down the hier'industrial democracy' more some of the current ideas on the subject.
The development of telecheric machines - proposed in the Plan • is significant here. These are mechanical extensions to the They mimic the motions of the operator and can be used in dangerous environments. Labour and human skill are thus retained. They could be used in such areas as mining, fire fighting, North Sea Oil fields, etc. Structural unemployment would countered by a need for skilled labour with human interest. if these were employed. ponse to the Corporate Plan? The what nas been me generate including technical journals, has been highly favourable both on a national and international scale. The Combine masses of correspondence, TV programmes are giving coverage and a Combine delegate has been invited to visit the aircraft belt of California in control management, Jased in Birmingham, rejected the Corporate Plan outright stating ..the only way to secure jobs is to manufacture the products which me company is oest at produ Fine words! Since then, Lucas have attempted substantial com pulsory redundancies at two AeroThis could be fought successfully using a mini detalling alter native work which could be underIn February 1977 Lucas announcee. surous to core ment' in the Birmingham, Burnley voluntary agreements, have beer dismissed by Lucas. To date not one exists in British industry. In the 'great education debate, Cal laghan, Williams and Varley are trying to encourage young scien tists and technologists to enter manufacturing industry. But this rings hollow with Lucas attempts other multinationals following suit. Remember the trade-off bet ween pay restraint and increases in the social wage? What better was to gear up industry than to pro duce for social need?
The Corporate Plan tries to answer problems which have faced the labour movement for a long time. These problems are funda mental to the present 'crisis".
It is not merely an aspiration or moral assertion. They are con tained a feasible backed by six volumes of closel argued technical and economic data compiled by the workers who ran the industry on a day to day BAC, CA Parsons, Vickers, octage are working along shilla lines. It is our hope that the move ment will pursue these proposals in plants throughout the country.
We will be watching closely to see mose wno nave sooker abou this subject for so long are now willing to demonstrate their sup port for it - both inside and outside the House of Commons, a well as in union offices up and down the country They can show their support by allowing us th opportunity of using our skill and ability in interests community rather than to make profits for the few
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Is it possible to fight now for production in the interests of the community rather than making profits for the few? PHIL ASQUITH, AUEW/ TASS member at Lucas Aerospace, says a loud 'yes'. Here he responds to our in-