ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a specific response of workers that goes beyond general alienation, a response to their economic crisis that reflects a new way of becoming integrated into social life. This response is worker consciousness, an awareness of the interests shared by workers and an understanding of the social and economic forces that influence them as workers. The embourgeoisement thesis also points to some changes in the objective conditions of work that have “bourgeoisified” traditional working class occupations. In contrast to general unemployment, plant closings eliminate a number of the barriers to group consciousness. Economic insecurity can exist for both employed and unemployed workers. Those employed in low-paying jobs must live with limited economic resources, which can generate high levels of individual discontent. Economic distress and perceptions of future employment opportunities have the greatest effects upon worker consciousness.
