Unions and Technology

Computers in Society  1950: 2 computers  2003: millions  2020: billions

Computer Communication Tendencies

 Decentralization  Customization  Linkages made fragile and temporary  Hardware translated to software everything is connected  A new biological metaphor

Computer Communication Effects

 De-industrialization  Globalization  Virtual Companies  Dynamic Employer-Worker Arrangements  Contracting-out

Computer Communication Effects  Workplace  Education

Computer Communication Effects  The Imaginary Workplace A workplace of unlimited resources based on creativity which can produce full employment and is predicated on democracy in the workplace.

Computer Communication Effects  Education in the Imaginary Workplace workers become L’earners life-long training and education computer-based distance education more private educational activity than public

Predicting Technologies

 Entertainment and toy industry  Corporate existence  Democratic communities The Internet Linux

Predicting Technologies  A period of rapid change The ‘90s Gold Rush Fast change means societies are easily deflected Same arguments for laissez-faire capitalism We have to learn how to confront change

Predicting Technologies  The technologies which exists today are hazy prototypes of what will appear tomorrow.

The Internet will disappear.

Speaking of the “Internet” in 2003 is like speaking about the “Electricity” in 1903.

The Internet  The Internet is an enabling, multi-purpose technology.  This means many more technologies are headed our way.

The Internet  The book enabled: Literacy Grammar The Reformation National borders Capital markets The Industrial Revolution Unions

The Internet  Electricity spawned: Telegraph Light bulb Telephone Movies Radio TV

What will the Internet bring?

We are not building the Internet.

We are building a new Electronic Society.

Will unions be part of this New Electronic Society?

Will unions be part of this New Electronic Society? Yes. If they participate in the design of new technologies.

The Internet CourseReader  An educational computer communications program  Designed by unionists for group work  Helps solves problems due to: High Internet costs Undependable electricity Expensive telephone connections

The Internet CourseReader Internet

The Internet CourseReader Internet

The Internet CourseReader Internet

The Internet CourseReader Internet

The Internet CourseReader Internet

The Internet CourseReader

Internet

Union Web Sites

The Internet CourseReader  Developed as “Open Source” Software  Free of charge  “Source Code” available for programmers  Translatable  Freely distributable  Foundation of an international union-owned, union-designed educational computer communications network

Union Web Sites Internet

Union Web Sites Internet

Union Web Sites  Web Page Creation Software  Mozilla Open source “free” software  Available in: Belarusion, Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Sorbian, Slovak, Slovenian, and Ukranian.

What is YOUR Project?

Solidarity Forever