Institute for Workers' Control
Encyclopedia
The Institute for Workers' Control was founded in 1968 by Tony Topham and Ken Coates
, the latter then a leader of the International Marxist Group
and subsequently professor at the University of Nottingham
and a member of the European Parliament
from 1989 until 1999.
The Institute drew together shop stewards and militant workers to discuss workers' control
of production. It grew out of the Workers' Control Conferences organised from 1964 by The Week
and the Voice and the Centre for Socialist Education. From around 100 at the first meeting in Nottingham
, the figure grew to some 1200 in 1969.
The Institute won sponsorship from a number of trade union leaders, including Hugh Scanlon
. In the later opinion of the International Marxist Group
's journal, the Institute over-accommodated to its sponsors and failed to organise its supporters: "only 26 people attended the AGM
in 1970, and affiliation and membership fees have been maintained at a very high level."
Ken Coates
Kenneth Sidney Coates was a British politician and writer. He chaired the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation and edited The Spokesman, the BRPF magazine launched in March 1970. He was a Labour Party Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1999...
, the latter then a leader of the International Marxist Group
International Marxist Group
The International Marxist Group was a Trotskyist group in Britain between 1968 and 1982. It was the British Section of the Fourth International. It and its youth organisation had had around 1,000 members and supporters in the late 1970s...
and subsequently professor at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
and a member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
from 1989 until 1999.
The Institute drew together shop stewards and militant workers to discuss workers' control
Workers' control
Workers' control is a term meaning participation in the management of factories and other commercial enterprises by the people who work there. It has been variously advocated by anarchists, socialists, Communists, Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, and has been combined with various...
of production. It grew out of the Workers' Control Conferences organised from 1964 by The Week
The Week
The Week, styled as THE WEEK, is a weekly news magazine.-History:It was founded in the United Kingdom by Jolyon Connell in 1995. In April 2001, the magazine began publishing an American edition; an Australian edition followed in October 2008. Dennis Publishing publishes the U.K. and Australian...
and the Voice and the Centre for Socialist Education. From around 100 at the first meeting in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, the figure grew to some 1200 in 1969.
The Institute won sponsorship from a number of trade union leaders, including Hugh Scanlon
Hugh Scanlon
Hugh Parr Scanlon, Baron Scanlon was a British trade union leader.Scanlon was born in Melbourne, Australia to parents who had emigrated from Britain...
. In the later opinion of the International Marxist Group
International Marxist Group
The International Marxist Group was a Trotskyist group in Britain between 1968 and 1982. It was the British Section of the Fourth International. It and its youth organisation had had around 1,000 members and supporters in the late 1970s...
's journal, the Institute over-accommodated to its sponsors and failed to organise its supporters: "only 26 people attended the AGM
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
in 1970, and affiliation and membership fees have been maintained at a very high level."