as simple as it is sometimes presented.
Full Workers' Control, even under socialism, is not realized only or even mainly at the place of work. Certainly, ( workers participate decision-making in a whole number of fields inconceiveable in a capitalist society, including the means of challenging not only management decisions but the appointment of management. But there are whole series of decisions, e.g.
Dricing. maior investment. and the dominant factor, in determining wages, in wnich ine worker exercises his democratic rights not in his place of work but as a citizen in influencing the overall Socialist Economic Plan.
It is important that we are aware of the limitations in a capitalist society if we are to put forward demands which are by workers as realistic and attainable and hence drawn into a struggle to achieve them.
different demands aimed to extend democracy aL WOrK ought to be put forward in the nationalised industries (even though It Is a capitalist state that runs the nationalised industries), the social services - e.g. education, health, housing, etc. - and in the private sector.
Bert Ramelson A fuller and more considered statement of the author's views are to be found in the October 1968 issue of Marxism Today; views which are now the subject of discussion in that journal.
"industrial democracy' may have unwelcome | countering this reactionary tradition with that of such socialists as Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, | Luxemburg, and Gramsci Advances in the struggle for workers' control will involve at least three kinds of activity.
First, strengthen shop stewards' organisation - in the face of opposition from the TUC and from certain trade union hierarchies. Socialists can assist shop stewards improve their democratic rank-and-file to organisations. More combine committees, industry-wide and national committees of shop stewards should be developed. At the same time all anti-working class industrial legislation and procedure must be smashed. The struggle here ranges from In Place of Strife to the engineering industry procedure 'going to York' (The undemocratic National Joint Negoating Committee arrangement with Ford management should be broken.)
Second, to educate and agitate on workers' control issues. Our work in this field should be as positive and as practical as possible, so as to gain the support of workers. At the same tim we need to oppose all workers participation propaganda.
Third, to build a revolutionary political organisation, to develop socialist consciousness among workers and to organise for workers' Alan Rooney ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ramelson is Industrial Oreaniser for the com munist Party.
STAKE