Power At Work

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Between working men and women—including wage earners, chattel slaves, indentured laborers, sharecroppers, and domestic servants—there has always been a silent, and sometimes overt, struggle over employers’ discretionary power and the interpretation of formal and informal rules. This ongoing battle for control in the workplace sees managers and supervisors attempting to increase their authority, while employees strive to maintain and enhance their autonomy. The case studies presented span three centuries and various global contexts, revealing interconnected dynamics of power at work, whether on the shop floor or beyond. They illustrate how power dynamics emerge from complex interrelations, such as the impact of technological innovations and their implementation, the division of labor at production sites, and evolving social segmentation influenced by management strategies and workers' responses. Additionally, the relationship between politics in production, shaping capital-labor relations, and state politics of production is examined, emphasizing the necessity of understanding these dynamics within the broader economic and societal developments.