diff --git a/internal/crew/manager.go b/internal/crew/manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e7aab84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/crew/manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+package crew
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/git"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+)
+
+// Common errors
+var (
+	ErrWorkerExists   = errors.New("crew worker already exists")
+	ErrWorkerNotFound = errors.New("crew worker not found")
+	ErrHasChanges     = errors.New("crew worker has uncommitted changes")
+)
+
+// Manager handles crew worker lifecycle.
+type Manager struct {
+	rig *rig.Rig
+	git *git.Git
+}
+
+// NewManager creates a new crew manager.
+func NewManager(r *rig.Rig, g *git.Git) *Manager {
+	return &Manager{
+		rig: r,
+		git: g,
+	}
+}
+
+// workerDir returns the directory for a crew worker.
+func (m *Manager) workerDir(name string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, "crew", name)
+}
+
+// stateFile returns the state file path for a crew worker.
+func (m *Manager) stateFile(name string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(m.workerDir(name), "state.json")
+}
+
+// exists checks if a crew worker exists.
+func (m *Manager) exists(name string) bool {
+	_, err := os.Stat(m.workerDir(name))
+	return err == nil
+}
+
+// Add creates a new crew worker with a clone of the rig.
+func (m *Manager) Add(name string) (*Worker, error) {
+	if m.exists(name) {
+		return nil, ErrWorkerExists
+	}
+
+	workerPath := m.workerDir(name)
+
+	// Create crew directory if needed
+	crewDir := filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, "crew")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(crewDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating crew dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Clone the rig repo
+	if err := m.git.Clone(m.rig.GitURL, workerPath); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cloning rig: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create crew worker state
+	now := time.Now()
+	worker := &Worker{
+		Name:      name,
+		Rig:       m.rig.Name,
+		State:     StateActive,
+		ClonePath: workerPath,
+		CreatedAt: now,
+		UpdatedAt: now,
+	}
+
+	// Save state
+	if err := m.saveState(worker); err != nil {
+		os.RemoveAll(workerPath)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("saving state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return worker, nil
+}
+
+// AddWithConfig creates a new crew worker with custom configuration.
+func (m *Manager) AddWithConfig(name string, beadsDir string) (*Worker, error) {
+	worker, err := m.Add(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Update with custom config
+	if beadsDir != "" {
+		worker.BeadsDir = beadsDir
+		if err := m.saveState(worker); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("saving config: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return worker, nil
+}
+
+// Remove deletes a crew worker.
+func (m *Manager) Remove(name string) error {
+	if !m.exists(name) {
+		return ErrWorkerNotFound
+	}
+
+	workerPath := m.workerDir(name)
+	workerGit := git.NewGit(workerPath)
+
+	// Check for uncommitted changes
+	hasChanges, err := workerGit.HasUncommittedChanges()
+	if err == nil && hasChanges {
+		return ErrHasChanges
+	}
+
+	// Remove directory
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(workerPath); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("removing crew worker dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// RemoveForce deletes a crew worker even with uncommitted changes.
+func (m *Manager) RemoveForce(name string) error {
+	if !m.exists(name) {
+		return ErrWorkerNotFound
+	}
+
+	workerPath := m.workerDir(name)
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(workerPath); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("removing crew worker dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// List returns all crew workers in the rig.
+func (m *Manager) List() ([]*Worker, error) {
+	crewDir := filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, "crew")
+
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(crewDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading crew dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var workers []*Worker
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if !entry.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		worker, err := m.Get(entry.Name())
+		if err != nil {
+			continue // Skip invalid workers
+		}
+		workers = append(workers, worker)
+	}
+
+	return workers, nil
+}
+
+// Get returns a specific crew worker by name.
+func (m *Manager) Get(name string) (*Worker, error) {
+	if !m.exists(name) {
+		return nil, ErrWorkerNotFound
+	}
+
+	return m.loadState(name)
+}
+
+// SetState updates a crew worker's state.
+func (m *Manager) SetState(name string, state State) error {
+	worker, err := m.Get(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	worker.State = state
+	worker.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
+
+	return m.saveState(worker)
+}
+
+// SetBeadsDir updates the custom beads directory for a crew worker.
+func (m *Manager) SetBeadsDir(name, beadsDir string) error {
+	worker, err := m.Get(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	worker.BeadsDir = beadsDir
+	worker.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
+
+	return m.saveState(worker)
+}
+
+// saveState persists crew worker state to disk.
+func (m *Manager) saveState(worker *Worker) error {
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(worker, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("marshaling state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	stateFile := m.stateFile(worker.Name)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(stateFile, data, 0644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("writing state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// loadState reads crew worker state from disk.
+func (m *Manager) loadState(name string) (*Worker, error) {
+	stateFile := m.stateFile(name)
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(stateFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			// Return minimal worker if state file missing
+			return &Worker{
+				Name:      name,
+				Rig:       m.rig.Name,
+				State:     StateActive,
+				ClonePath: m.workerDir(name),
+			}, nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var worker Worker
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &worker); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parsing state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &worker, nil
+}
+
+// Names returns just the names of all crew workers.
+func (m *Manager) Names() ([]string, error) {
+	crewDir := filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, "crew")
+
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(crewDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading crew dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var names []string
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			names = append(names, entry.Name())
+		}
+	}
+
+	return names, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/crew/manager_test.go b/internal/crew/manager_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9eea4c88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/crew/manager_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+package crew
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/git"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+)
+
+func TestManager_workerDir(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "test-rig",
+		Path: "/tmp/test-rig",
+	}
+	m := NewManager(r, nil)
+
+	got := m.workerDir("alice")
+	want := "/tmp/test-rig/crew/alice"
+
+	if got != want {
+		t.Errorf("workerDir() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManager_stateFile(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "test-rig",
+		Path: "/tmp/test-rig",
+	}
+	m := NewManager(r, nil)
+
+	got := m.stateFile("bob")
+	want := "/tmp/test-rig/crew/bob/state.json"
+
+	if got != want {
+		t.Errorf("stateFile() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManager_exists(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create temp directory structure
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	crewDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "crew", "existing-worker")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(crewDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "test-rig",
+		Path: tmpDir,
+	}
+	m := NewManager(r, nil)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		worker string
+		want   bool
+	}{
+		{"existing worker", "existing-worker", true},
+		{"non-existing worker", "non-existing", false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := m.exists(tt.worker)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("exists(%q) = %v, want %v", tt.worker, got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManager_List_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "test-rig",
+		Path: tmpDir,
+	}
+	m := NewManager(r, git.NewGit(tmpDir))
+
+	workers, err := m.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("List() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if len(workers) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("List() returned %d workers, want 0", len(workers))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManager_List_WithWorkers(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// Create some fake worker directories
+	workers := []string{"alice", "bob", "charlie"}
+	for _, name := range workers {
+		workerDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "crew", name)
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(workerDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "test-rig",
+		Path: tmpDir,
+	}
+	m := NewManager(r, git.NewGit(tmpDir))
+
+	gotWorkers, err := m.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("List() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if len(gotWorkers) != len(workers) {
+		t.Errorf("List() returned %d workers, want %d", len(gotWorkers), len(workers))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManager_Names(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// Create some fake worker directories
+	expected := []string{"alice", "bob"}
+	for _, name := range expected {
+		workerDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "crew", name)
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(workerDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "test-rig",
+		Path: tmpDir,
+	}
+	m := NewManager(r, git.NewGit(tmpDir))
+
+	names, err := m.Names()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Names() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if len(names) != len(expected) {
+		t.Errorf("Names() returned %d names, want %d", len(names), len(expected))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWorker_EffectiveBeadsDir(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		beadsDir string
+		rigPath  string
+		want     string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "custom beads dir",
+			beadsDir: "/custom/beads",
+			rigPath:  "/tmp/rig",
+			want:     "/custom/beads",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "default beads dir",
+			beadsDir: "",
+			rigPath:  "/tmp/rig",
+			want:     "/tmp/rig/.beads",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			w := &Worker{
+				BeadsDir: tt.beadsDir,
+			}
+			got := w.EffectiveBeadsDir(tt.rigPath)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("EffectiveBeadsDir() = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWorker_Summary(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &Worker{
+		Name:   "alice",
+		State:  StateActive,
+		Branch: "feature/test",
+	}
+
+	got := w.Summary()
+
+	if got.Name != w.Name {
+		t.Errorf("Summary().Name = %q, want %q", got.Name, w.Name)
+	}
+	if got.State != w.State {
+		t.Errorf("Summary().State = %q, want %q", got.State, w.State)
+	}
+	if got.Branch != w.Branch {
+		t.Errorf("Summary().Branch = %q, want %q", got.Branch, w.Branch)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/crew/types.go b/internal/crew/types.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b0bec6bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/crew/types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+// Package crew provides crew worker management.
+// Crew workers are user-managed persistent workspaces within a rig,
+// as opposed to polecats which are AI-managed workers.
+package crew
+
+import "time"
+
+// State represents the current state of a crew worker.
+type State string
+
+const (
+	// StateActive means the crew workspace is active.
+	StateActive State = "active"
+
+	// StateInactive means the crew workspace is inactive.
+	StateInactive State = "inactive"
+)
+
+// Worker represents a crew member's workspace in a rig.
+// Unlike polecats, crew workers are managed by the Overseer (human),
+// not by AI agents.
+type Worker struct {
+	// Name is the crew worker identifier.
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+
+	// Rig is the rig this worker belongs to.
+	Rig string `json:"rig"`
+
+	// State is the current state.
+	State State `json:"state"`
+
+	// ClonePath is the path to the worker's clone.
+	ClonePath string `json:"clone_path"`
+
+	// Branch is the current git branch (if any).
+	Branch string `json:"branch,omitempty"`
+
+	// BeadsDir is an optional custom beads directory.
+	// If empty, defaults to the rig's .beads/ directory.
+	BeadsDir string `json:"beads_dir,omitempty"`
+
+	// CreatedAt is when the worker was created.
+	CreatedAt time.Time `json:"created_at"`
+
+	// UpdatedAt is when the worker was last updated.
+	UpdatedAt time.Time `json:"updated_at"`
+}
+
+// Summary provides a concise view of crew worker status.
+type Summary struct {
+	Name   string `json:"name"`
+	State  State  `json:"state"`
+	Branch string `json:"branch,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Summary returns a Summary for this worker.
+func (w *Worker) Summary() Summary {
+	return Summary{
+		Name:   w.Name,
+		State:  w.State,
+		Branch: w.Branch,
+	}
+}
+
+// EffectiveBeadsDir returns the beads directory to use.
+// Returns the custom BeadsDir if set, otherwise returns the rig default path.
+func (w *Worker) EffectiveBeadsDir(rigPath string) string {
+	if w.BeadsDir != "" {
+		return w.BeadsDir
+	}
+	return rigPath + "/.beads"
+}
diff --git a/internal/rig/manager.go b/internal/rig/manager.go
index 8fe79bc9..3e336343 100644
--- a/internal/rig/manager.go
+++ b/internal/rig/manager.go
@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ func (m *Manager) loadRig(name string, entry config.RigEntry) (*Rig, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Scan for crew workers
+	crewDir := filepath.Join(rigPath, "crew")
+	if entries, err := os.ReadDir(crewDir); err == nil {
+		for _, e := range entries {
+			if e.IsDir() {
+				rig.Crew = append(rig.Crew, e.Name())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Check for witness
 	witnessPath := filepath.Join(rigPath, "witness", "rig")
 	if _, err := os.Stat(witnessPath); err == nil {
diff --git a/internal/rig/types.go b/internal/rig/types.go
index 897dd266..ad74f6e3 100644
--- a/internal/rig/types.go
+++ b/internal/rig/types.go
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ type Rig struct {
 	// Polecats is the list of polecat names in this rig.
 	Polecats []string `json:"polecats,omitempty"`
 
+	// Crew is the list of crew worker names in this rig.
+	// Crew workers are user-managed persistent workspaces.
+	Crew []string `json:"crew,omitempty"`
+
 	// HasWitness indicates if the rig has a witness agent.
 	HasWitness bool `json:"has_witness"`
 
@@ -35,6 +39,7 @@ type Rig struct {
 // AgentDirs are the standard agent directories in a rig.
 var AgentDirs = []string{
 	"polecats",
+	"crew",
 	"refinery/rig",
 	"witness/rig",
 	"mayor/rig",
@@ -42,18 +47,20 @@ var AgentDirs = []string{
 
 // RigSummary provides a concise overview of a rig.
 type RigSummary struct {
-	Name        string `json:"name"`
+	Name         string `json:"name"`
 	PolecatCount int    `json:"polecat_count"`
-	HasWitness  bool   `json:"has_witness"`
-	HasRefinery bool   `json:"has_refinery"`
+	CrewCount    int    `json:"crew_count"`
+	HasWitness   bool   `json:"has_witness"`
+	HasRefinery  bool   `json:"has_refinery"`
 }
 
 // Summary returns a RigSummary for this rig.
 func (r *Rig) Summary() RigSummary {
 	return RigSummary{
-		Name:        r.Name,
+		Name:         r.Name,
 		PolecatCount: len(r.Polecats),
-		HasWitness:  r.HasWitness,
-		HasRefinery: r.HasRefinery,
+		CrewCount:    len(r.Crew),
+		HasWitness:   r.HasWitness,
+		HasRefinery:  r.HasRefinery,
 	}
 }