The Technical Intelligentsia and the Workers

Abstract

This chapter considers the work situation of the technical intelligentsia as it was defined by the pattern of relations between ITR on the one hand, and the workers and mass organisations of the enterprise on the other. An attempt is made to get a picture of the extent and limits of ITR authority over workers, what kinds of managerial style were adopted, and the role of trade union and party officials at the enterprise level in relation to ITR. For the most part, attention is focused on line managers, since they were the most important figures with whom workers needed to establish a relationship. But technical staff are also considered in this context, since the field of action of some staff functions was of direct significance from the point of view of production workers.