marxism and syndicalism?

[CommunistKid]

I consider myself a marxist, but I found out my understanding of how a communist society would function is very similar to syndicalism. i basically think the society would have various unions for different professions with no leader that the workers can engage in direct democracy with. do syndicalism and marxist communism contradict each other in any major way? can I be both?

thanks in advance!

[ckaihatsu]

I consider myself a marxist, but I found out my understanding of how a communist society would function is very similar to syndicalism. i basically think the society would have various unions for different professions with no leader that the workers can engage in direct democracy with. do syndicalism and marxist communism contradict each other in any major way? can I be both?

thanks in advance!


I'd say the distinction has to do with geographical scope -- how isolated would these syndicalist unions be from each other, or how integrated and coordinated would they be, over what expanse of geography -- ?

[Brutus]

The problem is with unions is that they only embrace one segment of the proletariat based on profession. However, workers' councils (soviets) embrace not merely one or another segment of the proletariat, this or that trade or occupation, but all the workers, and along the “lines of production rather than of craft. The unions should therefore be dismantled, as their main use now is to defend the economic gains of the working class, which will not be needed if the workers are armed and organised.

[CommunistKid]

I'd say the distinction has to do with geographical scope -- how isolated would these syndicalist unions be from each other, or how integrated and coordinated would they be, over what expanse of geography -- ?

I sort of imagine there would be many unions in each town, a teacher union, a medical union etc. And each union would govern the affairs of the buisness. They would have to work together in some ways like a delivery union has to deliver to a market run by another union?

[Mad Frankie]

I consider myself a marxist, but I found out my understanding of how a communist society would function is very similar to syndicalism. i basically think the society would have various unions for different professions with no leader that the workers can engage in direct democracy with. do syndicalism and marxist communism contradict each other in any major way? can I be both?

thanks in advance!

So you accept the social division of labour?