La democrazia al lavoro. Autonomia, sicurezza e utilità sociale dentro e fuori i luoghi di lavoro

In this article, I will analyze several models and experiences of collective (and thus individual) labor emancipation, which are being tested on a medium scale through workers’ solidarity and mutualistic cooperation. These models will first be differentiated from the new forms of control over real labor introduced by the «liberated enterprises» theorized by neoliberal management, aimed at bending the informal margins of relative autonomy, resistance, sabotage, and open opposition associated with real labor, in favor of the formal organization of the enterprise. Forms of democratic liberation of labor can be understood as a process of democratization, either from above or from below, within private enterprises and public administrations. In the former case, it involves transforming the exercise of decision-making power, and thus the governance of enterprises. In the latter case, it involves recognizing both enterprises and public administrations as formative and political institutions, and consequently encouraging individual participation in collective cooperation that complements and corrects the production coordination activities prescribed by top management.