It probably could, but the issue of "power" is more of a peripheral aspect to the intentions of the novel as a whole. Steinbeck, more or less, is seeking to highlight the alienated, lonely and somewhat vicarious lives of the 1930's depression working class. It has more to do with their lack of solidarity and social inclusion; i.e. there's a conversation somewhere where one of the character says something along the lines of:
"wandering from ranch to ranch...those guys ain't no fun."