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Workers' Self-government in Yugoslav Industry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2011

William N. Loucks
William N. Loucks
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
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Extract

Theoretically and etymologically, “communism” means “from each according to his abilities and to each according to his needs.” Marxian literature looks to a future society in which, influenced by the appropriate economic, political, and social institutions, the individual will conform to this precept in his production and consumption activities. As Communist parties have striven for and achieved political power in the twentieth century, their tactical maneuvers at what presumably are way-stations along the road to pure communism have overlaid the term “communism” with a bewildering array of political and economic dogmas and practices.

Type
Research Article
Information
World Politics , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , October 1958 , pp. 68 - 82
Copyright
Copyright © Trustees of Princeton University 1958

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References

1 This law was enacted by the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia on July 2, 1950. It has been supplemented and modified numerous times by “decrees” of the Federal Executive Council (the executive branch of the government) and by various types of “instructions” promulgated by the appropriate governmental agencies. The Basic Law is now in process of being revised and codified in order to solve some of the problems which will be discussed below. A “Working Collective” is, in effect, another name for an enterprise considered as an entity.

The details of the selection, jurisdiction, and duties of “Workers' Councils,” “Managing Boards,” and “Directors of Enterprises” are found in the following sources: “The Basic Law”; “The Law of the Method of Election of Workers' Councils of Economic Enterprises,” promulgated by decree of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, December 29, 1951 (published in the Official Gazette, No. 3, January 1, 1952); and “Instructions on the Implementation of the Election of Workers' Councils and Managing Boards of Economic Enterprises” (published in ibid., No. 8, February 22, 1956).

2 For a description of controls exercised by the Social Plan and financial institutions such as the Yugoslav National Bank, see Bulletin of the Yugopress (Belgrade), June 9, 1957, PP. 1–6.

3 Just what an enterprise may and must deduct from gross receipts as a cost of production is stipulated in great detail. See “Decree on Distribution of Total Income of Economic Organizations,” Articles 1–52 (published in the Official Gazette, No. 10, March 7, 1956).

4 “Decree on the Foundation of Enterprises and Establishments,” Articles 88–100, issued by the Federal Executive Council (published in ibid., No. 51, December 24, 1953, and Nos. 8 and 11, 1954).

5 Discussed below.

6 See “Decree on Wages and Salaries of Workers and Employees of Economic Organizations,” Articles 1–76, issued by the Federal Executive Council on March 9, 1956 (published in ibid., March 14, 1956).

7 For details of the nature and functions of associations and chambers, see “Decree on the Association of Economic Organizations,” Articles 1–22, adopted by the Federal Executive Council, December 23, 1953 (published in ibid., No. 54, December 29, 1953, and No. 8, February 19, 1954).

8 This was the first occasion on which representatives of Workers' Councils in all segments of the economy and from the nation as a whole assembled to assess their experiences over the seven years since the passage of the Basic Law, to discuss the weaknesses and deficiencies of the system, and to plan future changes.

9 Information Bulletin About Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia Publishing Enterprise, Belgrade), Supplement, Nos. 9–10, July 1957, p. 1.

10 For a full account of this matter, see “Resolution of Workers' Councils of Yugoslavia,” Yugoslav Trade Unions, Belgrade, July 1957, pp. 7–14; or, “The Resolution of the Congress of Workers' Councils,” Information Bulletin About Yugoslavia, Supplement, Nos. 9–10, July 1957.

11 This modification does not affect the 50 per cent profit tax which the national government levies on the profits of enterprises.

12 See “Workers' Councils and Managing Boards of Economic Enterprises in 1956,” Statistical Bulletin (Federal Statistical Office, Belgrade), No. 77, June 1957 (with accompanying English translation of introduction, table headings, and subheadings).

13 As characterized by Djuro Salaj in an address to the Congress of the Workers' Council in June 1957 (published in Yugoslavia, Information Services, Belgrade, Rn. 160, 1957).

14 In recent conferences with Yugoslavs who are actively connected with one or another phase of the Workers' Councils, the writer found no inclination to conceal or avoid discussion of the difficulties of achieving a successful and smoothly functioning system of workers' self-government. Indeed, when a difficulty or apparent deficiency was suggested, the interviewees normally would take the initiative, expand on the problem, and discuss freely both its seriousness and possible means of correcting it.

For further discussion of defects and problems referred to here, see ibid.; and Kardelj, Edward, “On the Further Development of the Social and Legal System,” Bulletin on Law and Legislation in the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (Union of Jurists' Associations of Yugoslavia, Belgrade), January-March 1957, pp. 3–11.Google Scholar