Wyong Plaza Work-In

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The Wyong Plaza Work-In was an episode of workers' control in Wyong, Australia in 1974.

Background

In the town of Wyong, a new shopping center was being built, and one of the workers was dismissed by management, angering the other workers.[1]

Events

The workers announced from the jib of the crane that they would remain there until the job was reopened for all workers. Having expelled the developer, they organized work along self-management lines; even asking local residents whether or not they would prefer a hospital to a shopping center.[1]

Result

Workers' control at Wyong Plaza lasted six weeks and only ended after the company agreed to generous allowances and conditions, including the right of workers to be consulted on “hire and fire” decisions.[1]

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Immanuel Ness (2014) New Forms of Worker Organization: The Syndicalist and Autonomist Restoration of Class Struggle Unionism - Chapter 10: Doing without the boss: Workers' Control Experiments in Australia in the 1970s