The petty bourgeois, which encompasses coop workers, self-employed artisans, small business owners that put in many hours but also pay wages to workers, lawyers with partner status, etc. are a middle class. They own their means of production to a large extent but also put in labour.
During times of crisis they align with one of the big classes or the other largely depending on which of those subgroups they belong (the shopkeep will generally align with the factory owner, the coop worker and the artisan usually align with the factory worker). Those that align with capital often end up becoming fascists.
The petty bourgeois, which encompasses coop workers, self-employed artisans, small business owners that put in many hours but also pay wages to workers, lawyers with partner status, etc. are a middle class. They own their means of production to a large extent but also put in labour.
During times of crisis they align with one of the big classes or the other largely depending on which of those subgroups they belong (the shopkeep will generally align with the factory owner, the coop worker and the artisan usually align with the factory worker). Those that align with capital often end up becoming fascists.