Computerized technology, jobs and the union's role: The views of union members in a skilled craft industry

Using a survey data set from 350 members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the study focuses on the following issue: How do union members view new technology, its potential effects and the union's role? The respondents of the survey generally showed a receptivity toward learning and using the new technology and perceived that new technology would play an influential role in shaping the industry and their craft in the future. More importantly, while the respondents believed that the union was not actively involved in technology issues, they clearly indicated that technology issues represent important strategic decisions in which their union should be more actively involved. Implications of these findings to the American labor movement and labor education are discussed.