Spaces of possibilities: workers’ self-management in Greece

Abstract

This paper focuses on the process of workers' self-management brought about by a wave of experimentation with alternative organizational forms taking place in Greece since the beginning of the current financial crisis. The discussion is supported by empirical evidence from qualitative fieldwork conducted in three workers' collectives. Drawing on the findings of my research, I argue that the members' values and everyday practices give shape and meaning to their aspirations of creating a space that not only critiques the existing forms of work but also puts into practice other possibilities that give emphasis to reciprocal relationships and prioritise collective working, egalitarianism and autonomy. I also argue that their established consensus-based decision-making models, far from representing a state of agreement, allowswithin collectively determined boundaries -the creation of a space where diverse opinions flourish rather than being suppressed. This encourages the development of more inclusive models of participation and the construction of rule-creating rather than rule-following individuals.

Challenging the Degeneration Thesis: the Role of Democracy in Worker Cooperatives?

“…The research discussed in this article found, like Kokkinidis (2015) and Beeman et al (2009) that democracy cannot be captured by participation in formal structures alone. The governing documents that outline agreed practices of member engagement, including processes of electing representatives and organising general meetings, were viewed as a "legal vehicle" and "loose framework for action" (Peter, Collective Traders).…”

“…While such attributes are viewed as beneficial leadership qualities in hierarchical organisations they "are a more complex and nuanced issue in co-ops" (Ng and Ng, 2009: 184), bringing with them the potential to increase or create gaps between "leaders" and "followers". The development of informal hierarchies may therefore limit capacities to resist, or create pathways for, degenerative tendencies (Kokkinidis, 2015). Similarly focusing on the potential impact of members, Somerville (2007) highlights the risk of degeneration arising from employing people based on their understanding and experience of market-based economic relations and competition, with little regard for the alignment of personal and organisational values.…”

“…Furthermore, a study carried out by Luhman in 2006 and a more recent review conducted by Land and King (2014), highlighted a specific gap in studies describing and engaging with the messy realities of democratic organising. Here Land and King highlight that, while it is understood to "permeate the entire organisation" (Novkovic, 2012: 93), as demonstrated by Beeman et al (2009), Ng and Ng (2009) and Kokkinidis (2015), discussions on cooperative governance have tended to be restricted to board competencies and practices with a specific focus on larger scale organisations. This focus is reflected in the principle of democratic member control that foregrounds active participation in decision-making through the election of representatives and a commitment to "one member one vote" (International Cooperative Alliance, undated).…”

“…Chatterton and Pickerill (2010) and Chatterton (2010) have addressed this gap in their studies of social centres. Cornwell (2012), Land and King (2014), and Kokkinidis (2015) have also made valuable contributions, analysing democratic practice in a UK voluntary sector organisation, and US and Greek worker cooperatives. I add to these articles by exploring democracy as an interconnected praxis of values, organisational form and daily practice, focusing specifically on how this interconnection challenges degeneration.…”

A CULTure of entrepreneurship education

“…To move beyond such profitled and individualistic accounts we might introduce contexts and examples where entrepreneurship is positioned as consensus-based decision-making and the exploitation of opportunities for society. Such alternative constructions and contexts could include collective entrepreneurship, for instance location-based entrepreneurial activities initiated between community members (Somerville and McElwee 2011) or self-managed, politically-motivated workers' co-ops (Kokkinidis 2015), or contexts such as social entrepreneurship, where wealth creation is a means to an end and not an end in itself. Such approaches could support the development of 'more inclusive models of participation and the construction of rule-creating rather than rule-following individuals' (Kokkinidis 2015: 847).…”