Democratising the workplace: worker perspectives on industrial democracy.
Date
1994-07-13T10:49:32Z
Authors
Buhlungu, Sakhela
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Abstract
The central theme of the transition under way in South Africa is
democralisation of all spheres of life. One such sphere is the workplace
where millions of workers spend most of their adult lives working for a
living. For many years workers and their trade unions have been in the
forefront of struggles for better wages and working conditions at the
workplace. In many cases these struggles have also been about control at
the workplace, or what Goodrich has termed "the demand not to be
controlled disagreeably". This paper draws on interviews with workers and
shop stewards at two factories in the Transvaal and seeks to establish the
extent to which their notion of industrial democracy and worker
participation constitutes what Goodrich has called "ii;.: demand to take a
hand in controlling". What emerges is not a homogenous understanding of
workplace democracy, but a range of views and opinions. The paper also
analyses a number of powerful factors which influence or shape the views
of workers on the subject of industrial democracy. The conclusion of this
discussion is that democracy is part of the consciousness of unionised
workers as it is the guiding principle in all union structures. It is therefore
inevitable that the demand for democracy at the workplace will become
part of organised workers' notion of justice and fairness on the shop floor.
Description
Paper presented at the Wits History Workshop: Democracy, Popular Precedents, Practice and Culture, 13-15 July, 1994.