ECONOMIC INSECURITY AND WORKING-CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS.

The transition from early to late industrial society is accomplished by a general decline in economic crises, the class struggle, and class militance. Nevertheless, economic insecurity rooted in structural change continues to contribute to the formation of working-class consciousness. A recent study of workers in a modern industrial community reveals that the unemployed express more militant views than the employed, while a disproportionate number of Negro workers voice class-conscious opinions. Negroes who are unemployed generally do not acquire militant perspectives unless they belong to unions. Interpretative comments on this finding stress the impact of industrial unions, since almost all of the unionized unemployed Negroes belong to these organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]