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workers_unions_direct_action [2019/01/10 02:25] scottishwobblyworkers_unions_direct_action [2019/03/24 14:34] (current) socalledunitedstates
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-**Union Organising & Direct Action in the workplace**+====== Union Organising & Direct Action in the Workplace ======
  
 With the global countdown towards climate disaster imminently looming, it is essential to the success of the Solarpunk movement that we strive to build the infrastructure of our new society within the shell of the old. This in mind, we can look to the organisation of workers’ unions as both a means of dismantling capitalist societal structures, and a means of structuring a new society with economic democracy from the bottom up. With the global countdown towards climate disaster imminently looming, it is essential to the success of the Solarpunk movement that we strive to build the infrastructure of our new society within the shell of the old. This in mind, we can look to the organisation of workers’ unions as both a means of dismantling capitalist societal structures, and a means of structuring a new society with economic democracy from the bottom up.
  
-**Workers Unions**+---- 
 + 
 +===== Worker'Unions =====
  
 The basic principle of the union is that an injury to any one member of the working class is an injury to all, and that the power of workers can become strong enough to challenge the ruling classes if there is **unity** and **organisation** among them. At the end of the day, the corporate elite depend upon the workers for their profit - as “Big Bill” Haywood said: //If the workers are organised, all they have to do is put their hands in their pockets and they have got the capitalist class whipped.//  The basic principle of the union is that an injury to any one member of the working class is an injury to all, and that the power of workers can become strong enough to challenge the ruling classes if there is **unity** and **organisation** among them. At the end of the day, the corporate elite depend upon the workers for their profit - as “Big Bill” Haywood said: //If the workers are organised, all they have to do is put their hands in their pockets and they have got the capitalist class whipped.// 
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 Solidarity is key, remember that the first step to organising your workplace is getting to know your coworkers! Find out what difficulties they face, any common gripes about management - everyone has ideas & experience on how their workplace should run, make sure to listen to their needs and encourage conversation before suggesting any potential courses of action. Solidarity is key, remember that the first step to organising your workplace is getting to know your coworkers! Find out what difficulties they face, any common gripes about management - everyone has ideas & experience on how their workplace should run, make sure to listen to their needs and encourage conversation before suggesting any potential courses of action.
  
-**List of Independent or Industrial Unions (please feel free to add to it as appropriate)**+==== List of Independent Unions ====
  
 {{https://adastracomics.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/sabo-tabby-vs-the-bosses.png?w=1038&h=540&crop=1}} {{https://adastracomics.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/sabo-tabby-vs-the-bosses.png?w=1038&h=540&crop=1}}
  
-[[https://iww.org/|Industrial Workers of the World]] (UK Site [[https://iww.org.uk|**here**]]) +=== Labour Unions === 
-[[https://iwgb.org.uk/|Independent Workers of Great Britain]] + 
-[[https://iww.org.uk/iww-couriers-network/|IWW Couriers Network]] (for deliveroo & uber eats riders) +  * [[https://iww.org/|Industrial Workers of the World]] (UK Site [[https://iww.org.uk|**here**]]) 
-[[http://www.solfed.org.uk/|Solidarity Federation]] +  [[https://iwgb.org.uk/|Independent Workers of Great Britain]] 
-[[https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/|United Voices of the World]] +  [[http://www.solfed.org.uk/|Solidarity Federation]] 
-[[http://www.cnt.es/|Confederación Nacional del Trabajo]]+  [[https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/|United Voices of the World]] 
 +  [[http://www.cnt.es/|Confederación Nacional del Trabajo]] 
 +  * [[https://workersolidarity.org/|Worker's Solidarity Alliance]] 
 + 
 +=== Renters Unions === 
 + 
 +  * [[Housing:Renters Unions]] 
 + 
 +=== Debtors Unions === 
 + 
 +  * [[https://debtcollective.org/|Debt Collective]]
  
-**Direct Action**+===== Direct Action =====
  
 Whilst the strike is by far the most well-known form of direct action, there are many ways you can directly attack the capitalist system and cripple your boss: Whilst the strike is by far the most well-known form of direct action, there are many ways you can directly attack the capitalist system and cripple your boss:
  
-**The Slowdown**+===== The Slowdown =====
  
 This is when a group of workers perform their labour as slowly or ineffectively as they can reasonably get away with. One historical example was seen in Glasgow in 1899 when dockworkers went on strike for a 10% wage rise. Farm workers were brought in to defeat the strike, but when the dockworkers reluctantly returned, they heeded the words of their Union secretary:  This is when a group of workers perform their labour as slowly or ineffectively as they can reasonably get away with. One historical example was seen in Glasgow in 1899 when dockworkers went on strike for a 10% wage rise. Farm workers were brought in to defeat the strike, but when the dockworkers reluctantly returned, they heeded the words of their Union secretary: 
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 After a few days of poor and slow work, the men at the dockyard were given their 10% pay rise with a plea from their management to work as they had before. After a few days of poor and slow work, the men at the dockyard were given their 10% pay rise with a plea from their management to work as they had before.
  
-**Work to Rule**+===== Work to Rule =====
  
 A fairly straightforward method, although the solidarity of your coworkers is key. This is when a group of workers slow down or otherwise disrupt profits by working exactly to the word of any workplace regulations. A fairly straightforward method, although the solidarity of your coworkers is key. This is when a group of workers slow down or otherwise disrupt profits by working exactly to the word of any workplace regulations.
  
-**Good Work Strike**+===== Good Work Strike =====
  
 This is one of the most rewarding forms of direct action, and can be particularly effective in service industries. The idea is that workers provide extra good service to the customer, at the cost of management and the bosses. Not only can this gain concessions quickly, it also helps build public support for the strike. IWW restaurant workers in New York managed to achieve concessions from management by organising to “pile up the plates, give ’em double helpings, and figure the checks on the low side.” This is one of the most rewarding forms of direct action, and can be particularly effective in service industries. The idea is that workers provide extra good service to the customer, at the cost of management and the bosses. Not only can this gain concessions quickly, it also helps build public support for the strike. IWW restaurant workers in New York managed to achieve concessions from management by organising to “pile up the plates, give ’em double helpings, and figure the checks on the low side.”
  
-**Sit-down Strikes**+===== Sit-down Strikes =====
  
 These can be extremely effective, but require almost universal organisation in the targeted workplace. The workers go in to work, and “sit-down” or occupy the space so as to render production impossible. This is particularly effective at preventing **scab** replacement workers. In Detroit in 1932, in the midst of the depression, IWW workers at the Hudson Motor Car Company followed the motto: “Sit down, and watch your pay go up!” Over the next two years they would indeed see their pay go up by 100%. These can be extremely effective, but require almost universal organisation in the targeted workplace. The workers go in to work, and “sit-down” or occupy the space so as to render production impossible. This is particularly effective at preventing **scab** replacement workers. In Detroit in 1932, in the midst of the depression, IWW workers at the Hudson Motor Car Company followed the motto: “Sit down, and watch your pay go up!” Over the next two years they would indeed see their pay go up by 100%.
  
-**The General Strike**+===== The General Strike =====
  
 Considered by many to be the ultimate weapon of the workers, the General Strike is when all (or enough to render them ineffective) the workers in every industry refuse to work. At its strongest this method has brought companies and states alike to their knees, but it is notoriously difficult to organise or predict. Perhaps the most renowned example led to the February Insurrection in Petrograd in 1917. Considered by many to be the ultimate weapon of the workers, the General Strike is when all (or enough to render them ineffective) the workers in every industry refuse to work. At its strongest this method has brought companies and states alike to their knees, but it is notoriously difficult to organise or predict. Perhaps the most renowned example led to the February Insurrection in Petrograd in 1917.
  
-**Silent Agitators**+===== Silent Agitators =====
  
 The name given to the IWW organisers who would leave stickers around their towns and workplaces calling on workers to unite. It was said in the months before the Petrograd uprising that the living quarters of the workers were a sea of propaganda and flags, and in this age of mass media it is vital to remember that any social revolution must fight a culture war - our movement needs to be visible, bleeding through every alley in society including the streets. The name given to the IWW organisers who would leave stickers around their towns and workplaces calling on workers to unite. It was said in the months before the Petrograd uprising that the living quarters of the workers were a sea of propaganda and flags, and in this age of mass media it is vital to remember that any social revolution must fight a culture war - our movement needs to be visible, bleeding through every alley in society including the streets.
workers_unions_direct_action.txt · Last modified: 2019/03/24 14:34 by socalledunitedstates