Education for workers' participation

Abstract

Workers' participation is a recent phenomenon in the field of industrial relations particularly in the Malta context. It forms part of a democratisation process and is associated with the wider concept of a more democratic polity. Following a review of the theory of participationism, this dissertation looks critically at the educational system and trade unions. It gives a historical account of workers' participatory schemes as developed in Malta and proffers some practical suggestions for the improvement of the participatory process. The actualisation of the participation concept puts to question both established educational methods used in schools and modifies the scope and nature of trade unionism. The dissertation examines the problems which an educational system geared for workers' participation has to face. It proposes ways to transform schools and trade unions into agents for the promotion of a democratic workplace and, eventually, of a truly democratic society.