Sen. Russell B. Long (D-La.) will be the keynote speaker at a conference discussing the growing trend towards joint business ownership by management and labor to be held at the Kennedy School of Government this weekend.

The two-day conference will consist of several speakers and work shops dealing with the increasing participation of employees in management.

Long, the ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee, has supported legislation giving tax breaks to companies which institute cooperative stock ownership plans.

Changes in the workplace over the last decade have made it possible for employees to feel more a part of their company, the conference explained yesterday, adding that many New England companies have taken the lead in establishing employee stock ownership plans and in seating employees on their company's board of directors.