The Worker Directors

A Sociology of Participation

Peter Brannen, Eric Batstone, Derek Fatchett, Philip White

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9781040913130
• Subtopic: Social Theory
• Index: Social Sciences

First published in 1976, The Worker Directors: A Sociology of Participation offers an exploration of industrial democracy and the role of worker participation in corporate decision-making. Drawing on extensive research and case studies, the authors delve into the emergence and implementation of worker-director schemes, with a particular focus on the British steel industry during a period of significant economic and social change.

The book examines the evolution of participation in the 1960s, the challenges of organizational adjustment, and the dynamics of worker representation at the boardroom level. Through detailed analysis, the authors provide a nuanced understanding of the experiences, challenges, and contributions of worker directors, while also situating their findings within a broader European context. With its rich sociological insights and practical implications, The Worker Directors remains a seminal work for those interested in industrial relations, organizational change, and the sociology of work.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Title Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Contents
• Editorial Foreword
• Preface
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Participation in the sixties
• 3 Vocabularies of participation
• 4 Change and adjustment in steel
• 5 Genesis of the worker-director scheme
• 6 The organization
• 7 The worker directors I
• 8 The worker directors II
• 9 The worker directors III
• 10 Redundancy: An issue and some themes explored
• 11 The European experience
• 12 Conclusions and beginnings
• Postscript: The development of participation
• Appendix A: note on research methods
• Index