Navvies: Their Work Attitudes

Abstract

In the Civil Engineering industry the attitudes of the navvies have been found to conform to a broad pattern imposed by their like interest in, and value of, individual independence. This interest and value appear to have originated in the circumstances of the industry which enforce on the workers a reaction of individual independence of, and an evasion of relationships with, the employers. The resulting like interest and value become dominant among the interests and values held by the navvies in their industrial situation inhibiting the growth of common interests and of collective action.