Workers and self-management in Yugoslavia, a third of century after its abolition: The example of Pirot

The aim of this research was to find out more about the attitude towards self-management of workers who were employed while it existed. 105 workers of former Pirot companies were interviewed. They were asked questions about the activities of self-management bodies both inside and outside the company, about trade unions, the collapse of self-management, and the option of worker share ownership. Data on worker organizing in the times before and after the self-management period were also researched. The analysis of the obtained data led to the conclusion that the workers, preoccupied above all with the growth of the standard of living, were rather careless about self-management, and they began to appreciate its emancipatory potential more only when they were confronted with the omnipotence of private employers in renewed capitalism.