"Blue collar" workers

[Drosophila]

Since the springtime's been coming around I've been noticing the landscaping companies getting more prominence, and "grass cutters" outside almost every day.

Now obviously grass-cutting is a low-paying and pretty unenjoyable job done mostly by immigrants and/or racial minorities (in New Jersey anyway). On top of only having the job for half a year each year, they are likely being paid less based on racist attitudes by employers.

So this is my question to the RevLeft community: Assuming they aren't already socialists, would spreading socialist ideas to "blue collar" workers, like grass-cutters, be effective? Has anyone ever tried it?

[Revolution starts with U]

If they survive by working for a wage, they are a prole

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I think that depends. If you're a white kid living in one of the houses whose lawn they're working on, I'd say they'll probably be like, "Oh, another condescending white kid telling us what to do," and not give a flying fuck.
On the other hand, if you're working alongside them, or coming from a similar set of experiences, they might be in to talking with you - but almost definitely not if you approach them like a missionary (most people who aren't suckers have learned to tune out preachers).
Realistically, if you want to organize with people, you've got to do it on a practical basis. Folk aren't passively waiting for socialists to come and show them the light. They're probably engaged in struggles within their communities - solidarity with those struggles should be your starting point.

[Rusty Shackleford]

you dont organize workers by just telling workers to organize. you dont just make revolution by telling people 'about' socialism.


it will more than likely come off as you seeming like you are giving them pity... which can be pretty insulting.

[Koba Junior]

They may have some propensity to accept socialist ideas, but Western propaganda efforts have been fairly effective at galvanizing them against accepting them.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Since the springtime's been coming around I've been noticing the landscaping companies getting more prominence, and "grass cutters" outside almost every day.

Now obviously grass-cutting is a low-paying and pretty unenjoyable job done mostly by immigrants and/or racial minorities (in New Jersey anyway). On top of only having the job for half a year each year, they are likely being paid less based on racist attitudes by employers.

So this is my question to the RevLeft community: Assuming they aren't already socialists, would spreading socialist ideas to "blue collar" workers, like grass-cutters, be effective? Has anyone ever tried it?Of course - any group of workers can organize.

All jobs have their various differences and difficulties and grievances, I'd imagine that these landscape workers are probably hired by contractors which makes their jobs hard to organize because the labor pool and job positions are more fluid (if not underground sometimes). It's possible, it would just take a lot more than some conversations.

But the real problem here, I think, is that you don't really have an organic connection with these workers on the one hand and on the other, you probably don't have the resources or time to help organize a full campaign around contracted landscape work. It would take concerted action by workers and a group of dedicated organizers or essentially a trade-union or NGO (who have resources and paid organizers) in my opinion.

So to just go up to a group of workers that you have no organic connection to and talk about organizing without knowing what their working conditions are like wouldn't be too effective. For one thing, why would they listen to you? You are asking them to potentially engage in a long and difficult struggle that you have no stake in and would not be hurt materially if everyone got fired. And it might sound condescending.

I think it's best to try and organize outward from our personal bases of power in life. If you're a student, organize other students and you can even try and organize a student-labor alliance if you are a student who wants to work directly on labor issues. Go to a community picket somewhere when there's a strike - these workers are already in a struggle and can always use help and this is an organic way to get to know local labor militants as well as get to know the other local players in the labor movement from liberal to radical. If you are at your job you can talk with your coworkers and see if it's possible to organize.

For random people you meet or random conversations you might have on the bus or something where someone says, "man I wish we had a union at my job", it's best not to promise more than you can deliver. If you strike up a friendly conversation with one of the landscape workers, just be straight, tell them you are a socialist/anarchist, interested in labor issues, and are curious about what they think, what their jobs are like, and if they think their job could be organized. The best policy is just to be straight with people, have genuine conversations, and ask questions.

[#FF0000]

i gotta say as a blue collar worker the entire op sounds condescending as fuck so listen to what people are telling you here.

[danyboy27]

Even within blue worker advising for unionisation is a tricky situation.
For exemple i wouldnt feel comfortable to tell to a group of farm worke to unionize beccause i am not verry well informed about all the aspects of their works.

On another hand i wouldnt hesitate to talk to warehouse workers beccause i have been doing that job for year, i understand what they are going trough.