At the same time as the work on the abolition of the MasterServant Statute was going on, Sweden was drawn into an international discussion about leading the revolutionary currents further from political democracy to economic or so-calledindustrial democracy.With clear references to development abroad, not least in Germany, a proposal was presented in 1923 under the direction of the leading Social Democrat, ErnstWigforss, which aimed at giving increased influence to workers in the private sector.526 Companies with more than 25 employees would have to set up so-called production boards (Sw. driftsnämnder). The condition was, however, that there would be a nationally or regionally affiliated union at the workplace and that a majority of the local union members had voted for the board to be set up. The representatives of the workers would be in a majority on the board.The employer would pay for all the expenses of the board as well as the salaries of the workers’ representatives. Among other things, the members of the board would be given information about the production process and technology, and they would be able to express opinions in matters about changing the company’s technical equipment or the economic conditions.The intention was stated as being to provide the workers with an increased insight into production, an increased ability to promote production, improved collaboration, work for the best financial situation possible etc. The presence of ErnstWigforss’ pen can be sensed behind the statement of the committe’s majority that industrial democracy could be regarded as the legitimate descendent of the efforts of the old trade union movement. In the first place, increased influence for the workers could be justified based on the demand for economic exchange. In the field of economics, conflict between p a r t i v, c h a p t e r 9 258 9. 5. 2 social democrat ic proposals conce rning industrial democracy 1923-24 526 SOU1923:29, Den industriella demokratiens problem. Betänkande jämte förslag till lag om driftsnämnder. Lundh 1987, pp. 336-345.
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