Looking
Forward. By Michael
Albert and Robin Hahnel 2.Participatory
Workplaces
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The life under the capitalist system was a life condemned to death
below the earth -and your children also; that's what they were good for. They
were lucky if they made sixth grade; that was really special. Only the
strongest could work. Those without good physiques could not... Look, I don't
mean this in any way personally, but listen American. There used to be a
barrio here they called barrio americano, where only Americans lived, the
administrators, technicians, and so forth; and on the door of their social
club was a sign, "Only for members." Now there is a social club for
all of us. We are all members now. Everyone. -A Cuban miner, 1969 "We see rooms where
plates are prepared and can't get out quickly enough - -,the fumes are
overpowering. We ask whether workers in this room get more time off or whether the job is rotated,
and no one even understands our question." The duty of every revolutionary is to make the revolution. It is known
that the revolution will triumph in America and throughout the world, but it
is not for revolutionaries to sit in the doorways of their houses waiting for
the corpses of imperialism to pass by. The role of Job doesn't suit a
revolutionary. Each year that the liberation of America is speeded up will
mean the lives of millions of children saved, millions of intelligences saved
for culture, an infinite quantity of pain spared the people. -Fidel Castro Fidel Castro Speaks Let me say, with the risk of appearing ridiculous, that the true
revolutionary is guided by strong feelings of love. It is impossible to think
of an authentic revolutionary without this quality. This is perhaps one of
the greatest dramas of a leader, [to] combine an impassioned spirit with a
cold mind and make painful decisions without flinching one muscle... In these
conditions one must have a large dose of humanity, a large dose of a sense of
justice and truth, to avoid falling into dogmatic extremes, avoid falling
into cold scholasticism, into isolation from the masses... Above all, always
be capable of feeling any injustice committed against anyone anywhere in the
world. That is the most beautiful quality of a revolutionary. -Che Guevara Man and Socialism in Cuba |
Simon Bolivar Press - The Anti-imperialist Version
Imagine we visit our
island and interview Mario, the manager of the nationalized Simon Bolivar
Press. He shows us around, describes the plant, and answers questions. Mario
proudly reports that the press no longer prints what North Americans dictate.
Since the revolution and until very recently emphasis was on books for school
children and a few magazines. Now, since more modem printing facilities
installed in a distant province produce all the books, Simon Bolivar prints
almost exclusively magazines, brochures, flyers, and posters. Equipment is
run down since spare parts are hard to get and there is little foreign
exchange to replace outmoded pre -revolutionary models from the U.S. But
unlike prerevolutionary times, today all the skilled printers and engineers
are from the island. Our manager friend is justifiably proud of the fact that
he and all managers and staff are products of a school system that teaches
all citizens without prejudice and a health -care and food system that keeps
the island's citizenry healthy and comfortable. "There is no more
colonialism. There is no more prostitution, gambling, export of our wealth
and our lifeblood. We are independent and, despite Western hostility, we are
making our mark in the world," says Mario. He then
takes us on a tour of the plant. The walls have a few posters but are
otherwise bare. Paint and many other supplies from the West are in short
supply due to trade sanctions. Most typewriters are old fashioned.
Typesetting equipment is 10 to 25 years out of date. Ironically, given the
embargo, technicians apologize for this, asking questions about new
technologies. The staff and workers show amazing creativity and tenacity in
their ability to scrounge parts and master the innards of their outdated
equipment, keeping it productive long after it would have been written off
elsewhere. Workers
have regular breaks and everyone earns enough to get by reasonably well in
light of the low cost of living and fine social services. Those who have
worked longer or hold more responsible or technical positions earn more, but
promotions are frequent, training is offered to anyone who wants it, and
lines of authority are more flexible than in the past. We observe that women
are mostly assigned to typing and typesetting, and are told that these
particular women like this work, but that anyone who wishes to do more interesting
tasks can take free courses and move up when job openings occur. We are
introduced to the female manager of the magazine -preparation wing, a highly
responsible position. We ask what she earns relative to Mario, who manages
the plant, and hear that her salary is a bit higher because she does more
skilled labor. Sensing our surprise, Mario quickly adds that he has the perk
of a company car. He claims he doesn't want us to get the wrong impression.
They have done wonders with income distribution, but all is not perfect yet.
They are still developing. Mario is
black, but so are most of the men who work in the noisier parts of the
factory. He accepts our implicit criticism, but tells us change takes time.
We see rooms where plates are prepared and can't get out quickly enough -the
fumes are overpowering. We ask whether workers in this room get more time off
or whether the job is rotated, and no one even understands our question. We
explain that working in this room, or in the noisy parts of the printing
room, is much less desirable than working in quieter, cleaner sections, so we
wonder if there is any compensation or sharing. "No," they say,
amused, "that would be impossible. But workers can go to school and get
promotions." This
pattern repeats frequently throughout the tour. Without even asking, we
continually hear about technology and characteristics of finished products.
Every description is careful and passionate and whenever we ask, we also get
lively responses about wages, promotions, and schedules. However, inquiries
about social relations, decision -making, and job definition baffle our
hosts. When we persist, they answer honestly and without irritation, but also
without interest. Our hosts clearly find this part of the discussion a waste
of time. Why bother to spend time discussing a dimension of work organization
that simply must be the way it is? We hear
how schools have absorbed much scarce investment resources and how the whole
new generation is now well educated. Now resources can be allocated to other
ends as well, including improving the plant to eliminate smelly, dangerous
fumes. We have no doubt that Mario means it and hopes for it. But he doesn't
understand the notion that as long as such a room exists, no one should have
to work there more than anyone else. He fails to note that fans would make a
difference, much less that the whole plant could be involved in decision
making. When we press the point, he isn't hostile to these ideas, just
dubious. We ask which members of the new generation -all of whom have a good
education -are going to accept work in the smelly room while others escape
it, and he admits there will have to be changes. We ask
what kind of changes, and he says he
doesn't know for sure but that already to get enough bus drivers -the buses
are smelly and very crowded new recruits have to be paid higher wages than
many technicians and managers. When we ask whether he minds this, he says no,
their work is uncomfortable and stressful and they deserve more. Mario is by
no means a cynical defender of elite privileges. But idealism aside, he is at
a loss for new ideas about job structure . We get similar answers from everyone we talk
with. The revolution has overcome imperialism, and this gives people pride
and a feeling of accomplishment. The revolution has sharply reduced poverty,
degradation, and ignorance, and greatly advanced the quality of life. But the
revolution has not yet addressed issues of self -management or workers'
solidarity. It is a coordinator economy with great elan and idealism among
managers and technicians. But each day that these leaders deliver new orders
and accumulate new advantages some of their idealism slips away. Workers
enjoy vastly improved circumstances and have great hope for their children.
But each day that they inhale fumes, obey orders, and get bored, some of
their optimism dies. They are not prepared and may become steadily less
prepared to govern their own workplaces and the economy as a whole. Democracy
in opportunity and outcome, and in
rewards and decision making, is
absent. Even though the contrast to life for all but a tiny elite in other
countries in the region is dramatic, it may prove insufficient in the eyes of
most citizens if remaining problems are not addressed. |
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