Workers "participation" in Mining

The current edition of "The Political uarterly" carries an interesting article on Labour participation in management with special reference to the mining industry. The author, George Graham, traces the history of participation in the mines from the early day in 1946 when the National Executive Committee of National Union of Mine Workers entered into discussions with the Minister of Fuel and Power as to the composition of the coal Board. The Minister indicated that he was unprepared to consult the union as those to be appointed were to be representatives of the nation as a whole and not of any particular interest. (The new Steel Board seems to reflect similar "considerations"). However, consultation would remain in the shape of the Pit Production Committees, which had been created in the war to deal with absenteeism. The Minister warned that these should not interfere with the management of the industry, which should remain the responsibility of managers above. As it turned out, representatives from the National Union of Mine Workers and Trade Union Congress were asked to serve on the Board and Graham analyses their contribution and the contribution of es-trade-unionists if put on by the Tories. It was thought that these representatives might weaken the management side but, "Any suggestion that an ex-trade unionist Industrial Relations Member would play any role remotely implying softness towards labour is completely discredited... The significant fact is that any person in a responsible managerial position has wider issues affecting various facets of the enterprise to take into account before taking a decision", He further notes "A common argument raised against the idea now is that workers appointed to management Boards would cross over to the management side. This argument presupposes antagonism between management and its own workers", George Graham is to be thanked for stating so bluntly what happens when workers control is emasculated and becomes class-collaboration.