Getting a job, unionizing and such

[Chambered Word]

I'm considering getting a job within the next couple of months, probably in some retail job or even fast food on shitty 'youth wages'. What I would like to know is, in short, what can I do to sow the seeds of discontent with the system amongst my co-workers? Are there unions for young workers that I can become involved with in Australia?

While this kind of thing might be insignificant in the short term it's important that the new generation understands how important solidarity is. I was disappointed to see that at May Day nearly everyone there was 40+ years old. Any advice/guidance is welcome. :)

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

I'm considering getting a job within the next couple of months, probably in some retail job or even fast food on shitty 'youth wages'. What I would like to know is, in short, what can I do to sow the seeds of discontent with the system amongst my co-workers? Are there unions for young workers that I can become involved with in Australia?

While this kind of thing might be insignificant in the short term it's important that the new generation understands how important solidarity is. I was disappointed to see that at May Day nearly everyone there was 40+ years old. Any advice/guidance is welcome. :)

I'm in the process of trying to gain support for Unionizing at my retail workplace.

I'd suggest focusing on what they're upset about. Bring up wages, hours, working conditions, specific managers, etc. There is always a inherent discontent with wage slave work, I feel. If you can just access or tap into that discontent...

You can obviously form a IWW union in Australia, I'm not familiar with the Labor scene in Australia, so I can't help you there.

[RED DAVE]

I'm considering getting a job within the next couple of months, probably in some retail job or even fast food on shitty 'youth wages'. What I would like to know is, in short, what can I do to sow the seeds of discontent with the system amongst my co-workers? Are there unions for young workers that I can become involved with in Australia?

While this kind of thing might be insignificant in the short term it's important that the new generation understands how important solidarity is. I was disappointed to see that at May Day nearly everyone there was 40+ years old. Any advice/guidance is welcome. :)Bravo! I'm doing more or less the same thing myself in the US. If you have the equivalent of box stores there, like Home Depot or Best Buy, I would advise you to try there rather than some small fast-food operation.

Also, and here we get into the Trotskyist-Anarchist conflict, I think that should, by all means, work with an established union if you are trying to do organizing. Anything else, in my opinion, and based on my experience, is pissing in the wind. The anarchists will doubtless explain to you why I'm wrong.

RED DAVE

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

Bravo! I'm doing more or less the same thing myself in the US. If you have the equivalent of box stores there, like Home Depot or Best Buy, I would advise you to try there rather than some small fast-food operation.

Yeah, it's a retail operation, it's a large corporation retail chain, akin to Walmart.




Also, and here we get into the Trotskyist-Anarchist conflict, I think that should, by all means, work with an established union if you are trying to do organizing. Anything else, in my opinion, and based on my experience, is pissing in the wind. The anarchists will doubtless explain to you why I'm wrong.
RED DAVE

Yeah, I've been reaching out to UFCW and IWW branches in my city. I'm mainly trying to convince people as to why they should even look into Unionizing.

[RED DAVE]

Yeah, I've been reaching out to UFCW and IWW branches in my city. I'm mainly trying to convince people as to why they should even look into Unionizing.With all due respect, and I think this will bring the wrath of Syndicat down on my head, I think you should avoid the IWW. I know it sounds romantic, and they have had a few successes at that great citadel of capitalism Starbucks.

But to carry on organizing, where you will be able to win the day-to-day victories that keep a union going, you need the continuity of an established union. Yes, I know all about the bureaucracy, integration in to the state, etc. But if you are going to win significant gains among large numbers of workers, you need to dive into the swamp, get covered with muck and shower often. :D

RED DAVE

[Lenina Rosenweg]

This might be of some help.

http://socialistalternative.org/publications/fastfood/

[Chambered Word]

With all due respect, and I think this will bring the wrath of Syndicat down on my head, I think you should avoid the IWW. I know it sounds romantic, and they have had a few successes at that great citadel of capitalism Starbucks.

But to carry on organizing, where you will be able to win the day-to-day victories that keep a union going, you need the continuity of an established union. Yes, I know all about the bureaucracy, integration in to the state, etc. But if you are going to win significant gains among large numbers of workers, you need to dive into the swamp, get covered with muck and shower often. :D

RED DAVE

I was more inclined to try the IWW because I'd rather not make efforts just so I can be organizing under a bureaucracy but I'm not sure how active they are in my city. Another thing is, I probably won't be working in these jobs all my life unless I don't get into uni and even then I have other options. So I'm still not sure what to do.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

Definitely keep it on the down-low, and reach out to others. Maybe distributing leaflets could help, as showing numbers, statistics, and the other positive factors can help for the people new to the idea of unionizing.
If you are new to the process of bringing about a union, I will tell you to read Why Unions Matter by Michael Yates. Besides showing a great deal of information on unions and why they're important to workers, it will detail how to bring about a union in the workplace, and the possible tactics the bosses could use.
Just remember, setting up unions is a long-process and the bourgeoisie will do whatever possible to break it down, or at least stall the process to discourage workers. Stay strong, comrade.

[ContrarianLemming]

Hey, libcom has a fantastic guide to all this, I'll PM you the link when I'm on my uusal comp, I have it bookmarked.

[AK]

I'm considering getting a job within the next couple of months, probably in some retail job or even fast food on shitty 'youth wages'. What I would like to know is, in short, what can I do to sow the seeds of discontent with the system amongst my co-workers? Are there unions for young workers that I can become involved with in Australia?

While this kind of thing might be insignificant in the short term it's important that the new generation understands how important solidarity is. I was disappointed to see that at May Day nearly everyone there was 40+ years old. Any advice/guidance is welcome. :)
The trouble with youth unionising is that society tells them to shut the fuck up about their shitty wages and conditions - blaming their arrogance and the fact that it's been drilled into the working class' head that you will succeed if you work hard and that, to start off with, everyone gets paid shit all and they have to deal with it; because people don't think working in a KFC or McDonalds is too hard or demanding of a job. Another factor in this is that the majority of the youth who apply for work at such fast food joints don't work there becase they need to survive on the wages given, but because they want just a little extra spending money. That's the case of the majority, anyway. Unionising and bringing class consciousness to teenagers looks to be a difficult job.

[Chambered Word]

Ok, I'm in the process of getting a copy of 'Why Unions Matter' from the local library. :)

[this is an invasion]

It doesn't really make sense to join a union unless your entire workplace is unionized. Instead of joining a pre-existing one like IWW or something, maybe you should work on self-organization within your own workplace.


Or maybe this was already said. Didn't read the whole thread.

[Niccolò Rossi]

What I would like to know is, in short, what can I do to sow the seeds of discontent with the system amongst my co-workers?

I have worked in fast food for the last three and a half years. I don't see my role in the workplace (or the role of revolutionaries in general) as 'sowing seeds of discontent with the system amongst co-workers'.

Nic.