Sydney Opera House Work-In

The Sydney Opera House Work-In was an episode of workers' control that occurred in Australia in 1972.
== Background ==
The Construction of the famous Sydney Opera House took place between 1959 and 1973, or a period of 13 years. In 1972, management had fired a worker and in response the workers demanded the rehiring of said worker and a wage increase of 25%. Management refused these requests, and were all fired. In response, the workers broke into the construction site with a crowbar and brought their own toolboxes.Immanuel Ness (2014) New Forms of Worker Organization: The Syndicalist and Autonomist Restoration of Class Struggle Unionism - Chapter 10: Doing without the boss: Workers' Control Experiments in Australia in the 1970s
== Workers' Control ==
Workers elected a foreman and safety officer, and when the Department of Public Works refused to provide engineers, they simply reorganized and did jobs that did not require engineers. Foreman tried to order the workers around and threatened to fire them, but were simply told to go jump into the harbour. Productivity skyrocketed as workers did the same work which previously took fourty-eight hours in thirty-five (or a 25% increase!), something management had considered impossible. This was a result in improved morale, efficient organization and less people skipping work. This frightened management so much that they promised greater and greater wage increases and better working conditions, but the workers kept saying no until they got better and better deals.
== End ==
The workers agreed to end their work-in when management agreed to give them a 25% wage increase, the right to elect their foremen, four weeks annual leave and a large payment for their troubles. The workers were extremely satisfied with this, and ended their work-in.
== See Also ==
* Harco Work-In
* Clutha Development Mine Work-In
* Whyalla Glove Factory Work-In
* Wyong Plaza Work-In
* Nymboida Mine Work-In
* Coal Cliff Work-In
* Sanyo Television Factory Work-In
* Union Carbide Work-In
* Department of Social Security Work-In
== References ==