THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IN THE MEATPACKING INDUSTRY. AUTOMATION PROGRAM REPORT, NUMBER 1.

TWENTY AUTOMATION MANPOWER SERVICES DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WERE STARTED TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCE WITH JOB MARKET PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND MASS LAYOFFS. THE FIRST OF THE SERIES, ESTABLISHED IN LOCAL PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICES, THIS PROJECT DEALT WITH THE LAYOFF OF 675 WORKERS, PROBLEMS OF READJUSTMENT IN THE PLANT, THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES IN SOLVING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE LAYOFF, AND THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE PROJECT. THE EFFORTS OF THE PROJECT WERE PRIMARILY DIRECTED TO THE REEMPLOYMENT OF THE WORKERS. IT CONTACTED EMPLOYEES WELL AHEAD OF THE LAYOFF AND ADMINISTERED GROUP TESTS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. IT MADE JOB SURVEYS, ACTED AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE WORKERS' STATUS, NEEDS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND JOB POSSIBILITIES, COUNSELED, AND MADE 1,160 REFERRALS RESULTING IN 317 PLACEMENTS. THE UNCERTAIN STATUS OF THE LAID-OFF WORKERS WAS THE MAIN DETERRENT TO THEIR REEMPLOYMENT. ANOTHER ADVERSE FACTOR WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN WAGE RATES THE WORKERS WERE ACCUSTOMED TO AND THOSE OF JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM AFTER THE LAYOFF. EMPLOYERS WERE RELUCTANT TO HIRE LAID-OFF WORKERS LEST THEY QUIT AND RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL JOBS WHEN RECALLED. BESIDES DISPLACED WORKERS' UNWILLINGNESS TO FACE REALITY, THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE FACTOR INFLUENCING REEMPLOYMENT WAS INADEQUATE EDUCATION. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PROJECT OPERATIONS WERE TO--(1) PROVIDE AN ORIENTATION CONTACT FOR EXPLAINING AND SELLING THE SERVICES OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THE TESTS, IN PARTICULAR, (2) USE A NONVERBAL TEST FOR THE FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE, (3) PROVIDE MORE ACCURATE AND OBJECTIVE STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS, (4) COORDINATE THE RESEARCH PHASE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT PHASE, (5) CLARIFY THE STATUS OF DISPLACED WORKERS, AND (6) PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROJECT FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL, AND EMPHASIZE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY FOR ADULT EDUCATION OF A GENERAL NATURE. (MM)