5. The Context of Toleration (3): Workers’ Control on Production

In this chapter, the author argues that the toleration of group leaders is also an accommodation derived from their own preference and the capacity of the workshop. The job immobility in the factory means that group leaders care more about their reputations and friendships with others. In addition, the job immobility also enables the workers to develop a series of ways to control their daily pace of work. Underpinned by permanent employment status, these autonomies provide the workers with influential leverage over their relations with the group leaders. In a word, working in these circumstances, the group leaders are not completely willing and able to control strictly.