Syndicalism and Unions

[Victus Mortuum]

What unions in the U.S. would be supported by syndicalists and people who push for radical union activity in general? Do you have any criticisms of the structure or policy of any of the unions? Are you active in these unions? Are you active in trying to change unions like the AFL-CIO into something better? Do think that is a struggle worth making?

[syndicat]

What unions in the U.S. would be supported by syndicalists and people who push for radical union activity in general? Do you have any criticisms of the structure or policy of any of the unions? Are you active in these unions? Are you active in trying to change unions like the AFL-CIO into something better? Do think that is a struggle worth making?


my organization is revolutionary syndicalist, so i'll say what we'd say. some local unions in the AFL-CIO are reasonably democratic and there is room for change in how they work. but large local unions and the national unions typically suffer from bureaucratic control by the paid hierarchy, concentration of decision-making in their hands, a service agency orientation. some unions are better than others. UE is comparatively more rank and file controlled, and has been engaged lately in some interesting actions, like the sitdown strike at Republic Doors & Windows and the fight to convert a plant closing in Mass into a worker cooperative, through use of the city's eminent domain to seize the equipment and sell it to the workers coop.

in my organization about half the members belong to the IWW and we have members in the Starbucks and Jimmy Johns campaigns. we view these as instances where workers have formed a worker controlled, grassroots union, and are engaged in direct struggle with the employer. but we sometimes have had criticisms of the way some branches of the IWW are run, so i wouldn't say that we see the IWW as the only road forward.

We also favor the formation of rank and file organizations or networks of activists in particular industries or unions, in order to push for whatever enhancements in the unions are feasible now, and also to encourage militancy and action independent of the union bureaucracy, to the extent feasible.

the emergence of large-scale worker controlled combative mass organization depends on developments in the class consciousness of the working class, that is, in increasing willingness of people to be active in struggle, and a process of learning through struggles. however, we think various kinds of "militant minority" formations can emerge at present, either forms of minority unionism or combative rank and file movements.