STEWART, David
Type
Related Items
Biographical Text
We have found no certain information about Stewart. Internal evidence in his paper suggests he may have been involved with the trades union movement, but this is not at all certain. He should not be confused with David Macfarlane Stewart, the Indian civil servant.
Stewart’s lecture was part of a debate on democratic control of industry, with John Pybus representing the opposing view. Anticipating objections that full democratic control will impossible, Stewart asserts that impossible though it may be, it is nonetheless necessary. Somewhat controversially, he asserts that workers exist in conditions of slavery, having no control over their labour or its outputs. He argues that just as society turned against slavery as an institution and swept it away, so too society will turn against the present industrial system and destroy it, unless workers are given their liberty and the workplaces becomes as democratic as society at large.
Stewart admits that he has no real idea how democratic control is to be achieved. Works councils are a step in the right direction, but not enough. However, Stewart says the direction of travel is clear, and it is up to both sides to work out a solution. The subsequent discussion shows Stewart’s audience to be broadly in agreement with his ideas, but just as confused as he is as to how to go about making workplace democracy happen.
Original Source
‘To what extent is democratic control of industry possible? The workers’ standpoint’, 13 February 1921, York.