ABSTRACT
In Poland, as in all socialist countries, there is only one labor union in each firm rather than several based on occupational affiliations. Similar to the party and other sociopolitical organizations, labor unions elect their governing bodies by indirect or direct voting. By creating opportunities for political activity, the representation system involves great numbers of people in the governing process. The representation system has created a very broad base of political activity in People's Poland. In large enterprises labor unions also wield the power to give members of the firm councils leave from their occupational duties, thereby permitting complete involvement in union work. It appears that the tendency toward reduced worker participation has various manifestations in different unions. This finding is evidence of the importance of the working class in democracy despite contentions about the inevitability of bureaucratization or increasing elitism of the contemporary political process.
