Thursday, May 15, 2025

Using Technology to Further the Cause of Progressive Trade Unionism

CLAC is taking full advantage of the digital world that has become like part of the air we breathe

By Henk de Zoete, National Board President

Recently, i had my regular eye checkup and while sitting in the optometrist’s waiting room, I encountered “toddler technology.” Opposite me sat a mother holding a young boy. He could barely walk but he was actively manipulating a device.

When it was their turn to see the optometrist, a wrestling match ensued—the boy would not part with his device. So, it seems, is our culture’s attachment to its devices.

Technology, of course, has always been part of our lives, including that of organizations. CLAC too has had its share of tech “wrestling matches.”

One from the late 1970s involved how many buttons to have on an office telephone set. The buttons represented phone lines, so the more buttons, the more lines, and the more calls that could be handled. But each line cost money, and organizational revenue was tight in those days.

Less than a decade later, computers had slimmed down in size from that of a shipping container to that of a present day printer. We acquired a device and software that could, among other things, maintain and print out names and addresses. This was a valuable machine, especially for keeping track of the Guide mailing list. It was so valuable that its plexiglass cover was locked each night!

As is always the case, there are early adopters, laggards, and deniers when new tools, methods, or devices appear on the scene. So it was with the advent of fax machines. Those of us in parts of the country where workplaces, job sites, and offices were readily accessible could not understand why some offices would need that kind of fast document delivery. Besides, it was expensive.

We made it through all of these technology crises. Looking back, they seem insignificant compared to the pervasive and invasive digital world that now has become like part of the air we breathe.

The digital age has provided us with many technologies that have improved the lives of millions of people in all parts of the world. It has also allowed CLAC to communicate and reach out to you and your fellow members in a much more immediate way than before. You also are able to communicate and share with us your experiences at work, as well as your needs and concerns.

We’re all aware that there’s a dark side to the digital world. From the toddler at the optometrist’s office and device-mesmerized couples at dinner to hackers and scammers to device-induced anxiety, social media bans, and AI-generated disinformation chaos, our era is fraught with challenges.

CLAC is aware of these challenges, and we go to great lengths to protect your privacy and personal information. Our systems are constantly monitored, and security infrastructure is upgraded in a timely manner. We have placed limits and controls on AI access and inﬂuence in our systems.

As a self-confessed technophobe, I’m grateful that the organization and all of you who are part of it have adapted to this brave new world. Together, we’re using these new resources to improve services for you and make CLAC a better, more relevant voice for progressive trade unionism.

Using Technology to Further the Cause of Progressive Trade Unionism

You might be interested in