The recommendation elicited various comments on the issue of research. It was suggested that research must address the structure of the micro technological industry as a global organization, playing women workers in various countries off against each other. It was also stated that we need new definitions of such concepts as the GNP, to include an accurate assessment of the value of services.

The group then proposed, and received conference endorsement for the following principles regarding workers' rights, which were developed by the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, and slightly amended during the workshops:

• All technological change in the workplace must be a matter of negotiation, either between unions and employer, or employees and employer.

• Union or employee must have access to all information relating to upcoming changes.

• There must be a complete safeguard of the volume of work done; no reduction in the workforce.

• Employers must be compelled to invest in the retraining of present workers.

• There must be limits on the deskilling that results from technological change.

• There must be strong protection of health. These protections must be initiated as soon as the symptoms of the problem are recognized. Employers must not wait until the problem is proven, and the damage done.

• Technological changes should be introduced step by step.

• No electronic monitoring of workers.

It was further endorsed that these principles should be legislated, in order to protect workers in non-union worksites. It was also recognized that union protection is important to women, and that participants should return to their home provinces with the intention of lobbying for legislative change to remove the unfair and repressive clauses that block unionization.

Finally, the women from the "Training and Retraining" workshop agreed to meet with the representative from the "Changing Employment Patterns" workshop, to draft a letter to all members of Parliament, which would include the above principles and elements of the original recommendation from "Training and Retraining" (see letter, Appendix).

6. Networking

Several women attending this workshop agreed to exchange names and contact addresses, in the hope of eventually organizing some form of national network to deal with microelectronics as it relates to women. The prime objective would be to stimulate existing groups and organizations, local and national, to devote energy to the issue, share information and resources, pursue research, etc.

It was agreed that the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women would be approached by the spokesperson for this workshop, and encouraged to begin research on women and micro technology. Lucille Roy agreed to prepare a list of interested participants (see Appendix).