The number of studies discussing the labour relationship under
industrial capitalism is overwhelming, but the literature on labour and
its concrete, day-today shop-floor practices is much less abundant. How
and by whom workers were supervised is one of the neglected aspects in
the history of labour relations. After an insightful introductory
chapter discussing the different forms of supervision in the United
States, Britain, France and Germany before the First World War, the case
studies in this volume focus on foremen: vital, but largely unstudied
figures in the history of factory life, labour relations and management.
Illustrating the multiple faces of the foreman, the contributors examine
the artisanal sector, textiles, mining, printing, engineering, heavy
manufacturing and car industries in Western Europe and show that the
foreman was a multifaceted character who possessed technical expertise
in addition to educational and organizational qualities. This
comprehensive volume is further enhanced by comparisons with practices
of supervision in Russia, Japan, China and India.