Workers control

What is meant by Workers control

Workers’ control refers to the idea that employees should have partial or full ownership and decision-making power over their workplaces, and in some cases, over the state itself. Rooted in socialist principles of collectivism, anti-alienation, and economic democracy, workers’ control challenges capitalist notions of ownership and management. While all socialists value the empowerment of workers, they differ in how far this control should extend, and whether it should be achieved through revolution, reform, or adaptation to modern economies. 

What is meant by alienation?

How does it relate to workers' control?

Separation from a group which creates isolation

The solution to alienation as it focuses on the collective rather than a more atomist way of being - since human being are naturally cooperative then this is a natural solution.

Agreement 1

Workers’ Control Promotes Collective Effort & Counters Alienation 

All socialists agree that workers’ control reflects a positive view of human nature, encouraging co-operation, shared responsibility, and personal fulfilment. 

• Revolutionary Socialism  – Karl Marx & Syndicalists 
  Marx argued that under capitalism, workers are alienated from their labour. In Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts (1844), he wrote: 

  • “The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces... the devaluation of the human world increases in direct relation with the increase in value of the world of things.” 

• Social Democracy  – Guild Socialists & Beatrice Webb 

  • Guild socialists supported industrial democracy, arguing that workers should manage industries through federated guilds. Webb believed that involving workers in decision-making would improve efficiency and morale, arguing that democracy needed to be extended from the political to the industrial sphere. 

• The Third Way – Anthony Giddens 

  • Giddens supported employee participation as part of a modernised welfare capitalism, arguing that empowerment at work fosters social cohesion, believing that democratising the workplace was essential to building a society of active citizens. 

Why would involving workers in decision making improve efficiency and morale?

 

RS - Workers are less alienated from their labour which would improve morale as there is more connection to the fruits of their labour, making production systems more efficient. Owning the products and the wealth they create --- MOTIVATION AND MORALE makes them feel valued = links back to the concept of common humanity - not about material incentive but working for wider good.

SD- Implementing industrial democracy involves workers more in work issues e.g. working conditions such as cleanliness --> they feel the immediate effects of work conditions improving and therefore this increases efficiency and boosts moral - work place voice is centred. Primarily focused on physical work place aspect.

TW - Reminiscent of the principle of collectivism - as a collective humans work better by achieving political, economic objectives so applying that to the work place means increasing scope of representation, more connected to the work place and boosts morale - lot more similarity with Social democrats where they both push the role of trade unions - TW push the scale of this further by focusing on this sentiment on a national and morale basis.

Agreement 2

Workers’ Control Challenges Capitalist Ownership & Power Structures 

Socialists agree that workers’ control is a way to dilute or replace capitalist dominance over the economy and promote economic justice. 

• Revolutionary Socialism   – Marx & Syndicalists 

  • Marx believed that workers should control the means of production, and that capitalist ownership must be abolished. Syndicalists called for the overthrow of capitalism and its replacement with a federation of worker-run institutions. 

• Social Democracy  – Guild Socialists & Attlee Government 

  • Guild socialists advocated state ownership of industry, but with worker management. The Attlee government nationalised key industries, giving trade unions greater influence, though not full control. 

• The Third Way  – Giddens 

  • Giddens did not advocate full workers’ control but supported stakeholder capitalism, where workers have a voice in corporate governance. He argued that the economy must serve the people, not the other way around. 

 

What do socialists mean by economic justice? How does workers' control relate to that?

 

Economic justice = fair distribution of wealth

 

RS - Abolishing capitalism = economic justice. Under capitalism, workers are exploited (link to vampire quote). Previous proletariats have been exploited through capitalism, therefore a continuation of capitalism lead by the bourgeoise will WORSEN AND PROLONG ECONOMIC INJUSTICE FOR WORKERS. 

 

SD - believe in state ownership of industry (e.g. trade unions) this calls for economic justice in ensuring workers views are heard. Workers can have a practical say in the distribution of wealth in the work place such as increase of pay.

 

TW - lesser extent of workers control in comparison to other strands - e.g. they want worker's to have a voice in corporate governance - more indirect form of having a workers voice. Capitalism does not prohibit economic justice in their perspective, but they do believe workers should have some level of control and represent their views in having a voice in corporate governance.

The Role of the State in Enabling Workers’ Control 

Socialists disagree on whether the state should facilitate workers’ control or be replaced entirely. 

• Revolutionary Socialism   – Marx & Syndicalists 

  • Marx saw the state as a tool of class oppression, to be dismantled after the revolution. Syndicalists were hostile to the state, viewing it as bureaucratic and inefficient. They called for its replacement with worker-led federations. 

• Social Democracy  – Guild Socialists & Webb 

  • Guild socialists were divided: some wanted the state to remain and support workers’ control, while others wanted it transformed into a federal body of guilds and local organisations. Webb supported state ownership but believed in top-down planning, not full worker autonomy. 

• The Third Way  – Giddens 

  • Giddens rejected radical restructuring of the state. He supported a reformed, enabling state that promotes employee participation but maintains managerial oversight. 

 

Which strand supports the most state intervention in enabling workers' control?

RS - Hostile to the state, see it is a transitionary tool to progress into communism as the state is inherently oppressive as the state reinforces division between the bourgeoise and the proletariat. However, the state should be the one setting up the apparatus to set up communist society - and then eventually wither away.

SD - autonomy given to workers is regulated, but state should not have too much control where it can de-stabilise society. State ownership should be present from a top-down control, theres a hierarchical system, workers should not be given too much control. Different to RS who do not want to use the state as a primary tool of re-structing to enable better quality worker's control.

TW - Accept capitalism, they believe the left should get comfortable with the capitalism market. They argue for an enabling state, where the state pushes for EOP rather than absolute equality - this is socially just where each individual as the means to make wealth themselves. Capitalism has some efficiencies 'managerial oversight' will fix problems, but there still should be employee participation links to worker's control. Different to SD - TW does NOT want radical re-structing.

Disagreement 2

The Extent and Practicality of Workers’ Control 

Socialists differ on how far workers’ control should go and whether it is economically viable. 

• Revolutionary Socialism   – Marx & Syndicalists 

  • Marx believed that full workers’ control was essential to abolish exploitation. Syndicalists argued that workers could manage production without capitalist oversight. However, critics argue this is utopian, and that workers may lack entrepreneurial skills. 

• Social Democracy – Guild Socialists & Attlee Government 

  • Guild socialists supported industrial self-management, but the Attlee government opted for limited control, involving unions in consultation rather than full decision-making. Webb believed in expert-led planning, not full worker autonomy. 

• The Third Way  – Giddens 

  • Giddens was sceptical of full workers’ control, favouring partnership models. He argued that businesses need risk-takers and innovators, and that workers’ control must be balanced with economic efficiency, believing that empowerment must be real, but also sustainable. 

Which strand is the biggest outlier in terms of approach to practicality of workers' control?

 

RS -> they want FULL worker's control through removal of capitalism whereas SD and TW believe this is impractical and will create more harm than good for the actual workers.