Join A Union!

[The Feral Underclass]

If you have a full or part time job you are entitled to join a Union. Union's have historically been used to fight for moderate concessions for working class people, and at times have been a vehicle for larger class action.

They are an important part of the struggle against the power and exploitation of large corporations and their bosses on people who work for them and are good starting points to spread revolutionary idea's among people.

Union's also make people feel protected and feeling apart of an organisation which can help you if you are in trouble with your bosses can give confidence. The bigger the union, the more power you have to demand concessions.

It is extremely important for all workers to be a member of a Union

Contact the Industrial Workers of the World and ask them for advice on which Union you can join. Inform them of the type of job you do and ask which Union is best suited. Once you have joined your regular Union you can affiliate yourself with the IWW (one of the longest running and biggest union in the world) by joining them

http://www.iww.org.uk/
IWW England, Scotland and Wales

http://www.iww.org/
IWW America

http://www.iww.ca/
IWW Canada

http://www.iww.org.au/
IWW Australia

[rahul]

joe,

can you say me some names of indian anarchtic\left \progressive organisations?

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2005, 02:05 PM
joe,

can you say me some names of indian anarchtic\left \progressive organisations?
Unfortunatly there are very limited contacts, infact none, for anarchist organisations in India. The only political party which I can find on the internet is the Communist Party of India. I am not entirely sure how "progressive" they are.

[rahul]

ok

i knew cpi(marxists) very well

[Danielle]

I have all intentions of joinng a union as soon as I can find a job. It would seem that in Australia the poverty stricken and non-university educated indviduals are struggling. I'm glad you guys put this up.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2005, 03:10 PM
It would seem that in Australia the poverty stricken and non-university educated indviduals are struggling.
It is the same everywhere. Especially here in the UK. There are options here though, i'm not sure how it is down under. You can claim unemployment benefit but they make you do all these shit courses. I have also volunteered and gone to Africa which takes up some time :P Maybe that is an option? Also looking into Housing co-operatives is also an option if you feel confident enough.

[The Feral Underclass]

Can those people who do contact IWW please say so?

[STI]

I'm going to fill out the "BAHA! Join!" sheet tonight and send it (and another letter) whenever I get around to buying stamps.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2005, 03:57 PM
whenever I get around to buying stamps.
Steal them from your parents.

[Danielle]

Originally posted by The Anarchist Tension+Jan 24 2005, 02:51 PM--> (The Anarchist Tension @ Jan 24 2005, 02:51 PM)
[email protected] 24 2005, 03:10 PM
It would seem that in Australia the poverty stricken and non-university educated indviduals are struggling.
It is the same everywhere. Especially here in the UK. There are options here though, i'm not sure how it is down under. You can claim unemployment benefit but they make you do all these shit courses. I have also volunteered and gone to Africa which takes up some time :P Maybe that is an option? Also looking into Housing co-operatives is also an option if you feel confident enough. [/b]
I am on student benefits but I really want to find a job. I think it's great social security exist but it's time for me to work and that's how I feel. It must be hard being unionised in the UK after Thatcher and the rise of New Labour. I would like to stay here and persue my dreams of being a musician. But what you have outlined is quiet intriguing.

[STI]

That was my first instinct, but they don't have any! :P

Those fucks. Seriously. I looked for like 20 minutes. I even asked them if they had any. Totally ridiculous.

[BOZG]

Many unions allow the unemployed to also join, not just those with employment. Even if "revolutionary unions" like the IWW don't exist where you live, it's important even to join 'reactionary' unions and to work within them to try and organise at least a small number of the members against the leadership. Even those in unions like the IWW, should try and hold 'dual-membership'.

[Invader Zim]

The unions in the UK are ridiculous lap dogs to the institution. We saw it under old labour, when they ran the country practically did nothing really constructive. We saw it under the tories where they were broken and sent twats like Scargill off with fat 100 grand pentions while workers had starved for a year. We see it today under new labour where the fire men got fucked over by a weak willed union and a corrupt set of employers and government intervention. Even when the will has been there Unions have failed, miserably.

I reject the idea that todays unions are going to help achieve socialism on any level. Maybe the likes of IWW are better, but the current unions are in a sorry state.

[NoiseUnited]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 02:46 AM
I reject the idea that todays unions are going to help achieve socialism on any level. Maybe the likes of IWW are better, but the current unions are in a sorry state.
I just wanted to add that unions are not sacred. They are wonderful ideas and gatherings, but these are prime targets for corruption and infiltration. It's very common to have the head of the union working for the corporation and not the workers, despite how believable they appear. There are also those who just spy on unions. Some unions that have been spied on by the FBI, with the corporations consent. Like the United Electrical Workers (UE Tampa Local 1201,) United Farm Workers, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Iron Workers (Local627). See what happened to Karen Silkwood, labor activist, after she found proof that the Kerr-McGee falsified safety reports of widespread exposure to highly carcinegic plutionioum. Found dead in a car wreck, appearing to have been bumped from behind with her documents missing. In 1979, in Greensboro, North Carolina, FBI collaberated (gave a detailed copy of the march route) with KKK/Nazi Death Squad, "United Racist Front" in which sharpshooters selectively killed members of the Communist Workers Party, including a president and a president elect of two Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Worker Union locals, an organizer of a third local mill, and a leader of AFSCME's organizing drive at a nearby medical center. Also be very cautious of anyone who is creating obstacles within the union, or is open hard lined communist - red baiting is a common practice of the FBI in these situations.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 03:46 AM
I reject the idea that todays unions are going to help achieve socialism on any level. Maybe the likes of IWW are better, but the current unions are in a sorry state.
Unions are also about feeling protected and gaining confidence. Although I can agree to some extent that Unions play a small role in revolutionary change, they are a good for achieving concessions and organise work actions.

Although unions generally have been sold out by their bosses, who, like all bosses flutter at the sight of a large pay packet, they do unite workers and they can play an important part in defending your rights.

It's important that working people belong to a union.

[T_SP]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2005, 03:05 PM
joe,

can you say me some names of indian anarchtic\left \progressive organisations?
try here rahul: CWI (http://www.socialistworld.net/index.html)

[Arnau]

Economically speaking, unions are tools in creating a new class of the "unionized" workers. Through union pressure these have managed to increase their wages from the initial market price equilibrium imposed by the "laws of the market" and have formed unions of higher paid emplpoyees that, by the nature of their higher wages, cut down the quantity demanded per price of employment and thus increase unemployment per sector of the economy.
However counterrevolutionary i may seem in speaking such words, in the economic system of our society in place, unions, revolutionary or not, have not found concrete "economically stable" solutions to this restructuring of classes by the factions of the proletariat itself, thats seek "change" through unionizing.
If we wish to bring about revolutionary change through the creation and increased membership of unions, we must keep one factor in mind: Demanding higher wages will cripple the struggle and globally contribute to the exploitation problem workers have, are and will face throughout their working lives.

[guerrillaradio]

Originally posted by NoiseUnited+Jan 25 2005, 01:05 PM--> (NoiseUnited @ Jan 25 2005, 01:05 PM)
[email protected] 25 2005, 02:46 AM
I reject the idea that todays unions are going to help achieve socialism on any level. Maybe the likes of IWW are better, but the current unions are in a sorry state.
I just wanted to add that unions are not sacred. They are wonderful ideas and gatherings, but these are prime targets for corruption and infiltration. It's very common to have the head of the union working for the corporation and not the workers, despite how believable they appear. There are also those who just spy on unions. Some unions that have been spied on by the FBI, with the corporations consent. Like the United Electrical Workers (UE Tampa Local 1201,) United Farm Workers, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Iron Workers (Local627). See what happened to Karen Silkwood, labor activist, after she found proof that the Kerr-McGee falsified safety reports of widespread exposure to highly carcinegic plutionioum. Found dead in a car wreck, appearing to have been bumped from behind with her documents missing. In 1979, in Greensboro, North Carolina, FBI collaberated (gave a detailed copy of the march route) with KKK/Nazi Death Squad, "United Racist Front" in which sharpshooters selectively killed members of the Communist Workers Party, including a president and a president elect of two Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Worker Union locals, an organizer of a third local mill, and a leader of AFSCME's organizing drive at a nearby medical center. Also be very cautious of anyone who is creating obstacles within the union, or is open hard lined communist - red baiting is a common practice of the FBI in these situations. [/b]
Yes but the bureaucratical organisation of a union is your best (fuck it, your only) shot, as a worker, of receiving representation and improving working conditions. Don't fuckin kill yourself holding out on principles. No anarchist worth his/her salt has any illusions about the true nature of non-syndicalist unions, but you also have to be realistic. A class-based revolution isn't gonna happen tomrrow, more likely you're gonna wake up and drag your sorry ass to your sorry job. At least if you're in the union, you have a shot at making things bearable, and maybe setting up a network of fellow-minded types so the links are there in case the shit does start to hit the fan.

If you really dislike the union hierarchy that much, start organising within the union but independently of its leadership and fulltimers. This may get you in trouble, but it'll make for a good story.

[shyam]

In India in any organization no one is likes the employee to think about communism/Left thoughts. no employer is likes to have Union in his organization.

And a union will help the employee to get their own rights. How much it will be helpful for Human Rights and how it 'll help to bring imaginary "Haven" to this real world.
Their might be only way "let all mankind learn basics of communism, feminism, etc. let them come out of their own limitations."
Give me suggestions.

[Guest]

It's also important you join a revolutionary union if possible. The IWW is the only syndicalist union in the U.S. It used to be much bigger, until the government put them down in the 20s. The AFL/CIO have once again shown how useless they are when they threw their wieght behind Kerry and let their movement get co opted by Democrats (nothing new).

I'd also give the advice that if you plan on joining a union try to be a model worker at your job. Your boss will use any excuse to fire you if you're trying to start a union.

[Donnie]

Im a part time gardener at a garden center and I'm not in a union...Yet. But i want to join one but it seems that the UK's IWW does not have any branches of stuff to do with gardeners?

My fathers in a union and he says to join his union but its heirachical and has a leadership which doesn't appeal to me. But IWW does.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2005, 12:18 AM
Im a part time gardener at a garden center and I'm not in a union...Yet. But i want to join one but it seems that the UK's IWW does not have any branches of stuff to do with gardeners?

My fathers in a union and he says to join his union but its heirachical and has a leadership which doesn't appeal to me. But IWW does.
You can join the GMB, which I'm a member off. They take in all sorts of workers and the unemployed.

http://www.gmb.org.uk

Then you can contact the IWW and join them.

[OleMarxco]

How can you trust a union to fight for YOUR rights and not just what the leadership chooses to follow up on and not exactly what-and-where you work, and not just pulls you along to fight for someone else's rights? Not that it is wrong, I totally support supporting other workers, BUT, you're not in there for activist work, but to further your own..albeit, egoistical...ends - not gettin' pushed around by the undefyiable decision of the "union"! And why is this not solved by abolishing of all "leadership" and making a, more of a, "worker council" - and not just leaders and workers? Rulin' class like! :P

[Sven_Linderot]

How can you trust a union to fight for YOUR rights and not just what the leadership chooses to follow up on
well quite simply - you don't. The leadership doesent give a fuck bout what you do on a locallevel as long as it isnt something really stupid like converiting people to nazism.
They don't give a fuck since they're too busy with far more important stuff then you and your co-workers organizing and resisting at your work-place.
At the locallevel basicly everythings cool it's when you come to the central levels of the organizations that it becomes a problem if you're a communist.
Numerous times has the union tried to make me a social-democrat and NOT beeing a social-democrat will put an end to any type of "carrer" in the union.
Lucky for me that's not what I'm after.
At the present time what we need to focus on is creating resistence localy on every damn place of work THEN when we got enough people behind us we might change the union on a centrallevel.
As far as small syndicalist unions go - I don't belive in them. I belive as Lenin said:
"as a communist you must be a part of the working-class struggle if that means to organize in the most yellow, reactionary union then do it" (something like that).

[Donnie]

I have made a decisive decision now not to join a union, due to the fact I have this big feeling that the union will just let me down. Besides because of the anti-trade union laws, I don't think they change anything.

I mean I'm just reading a book by Alexander Berkman and he says that unions should only strike if they all strike, little strikes by individual ones are rubbish they have no benefit, in fact he goes on to say that little strikes by individual unions benefit the boss's because for example when one union strikes and that factory stops producing and the others don't that that boss also controls it can make the products that that boss’s factory produce on high demand by the public so the boss can raise the prices of his products.

Beside in Union's your split up between unskilled, skilled, craft and trade etc. So in effect it's a divide among the working class. We all need to unite as one class with one aim! As long as where divided we will accomplish nothing.

Besides unions are reformist they accept Keynesian economics and so we as a revolutionary class are not about that, where about the emancipation of our class by the destruction of capitalism and the state.

I think we should just stay with our political organizations.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2005, 03:30 PM
I think we should just stay with our political organizations.
I agree with your entire post, but with this part especially. In order to build genuine resistance to capitalism and the state you have to build a large, strong, autonomous working class organisation that can work independently of reformist politics, especially within an arena dominated by individuals who most likley have their own agenda; usually money.

[poster_child]

Hi,
I'm interested in trying to start a union in my place of work. I work in a drug store in Canada and I'm not too sure which union would be appropriate for it. I know you have to get at least 40% support (excluding managers) and they have to sign union cards. Where do you get these cards and how do you go about finding the right union and getting the right contract? I would love some advice.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 26 2005, 06:35 AM
Hi,
I'm interested in trying to start a union in my place of work. I work in a drug store in Canada and I'm not too sure which union would be appropriate for it. I know you have to get at least 40% support (excluding managers) and they have to sign union cards. Where do you get these cards and how do you go about finding the right union and getting the right contract? I would love some advice.
Try contacting IWW in canada for advice. If you click on the political organisations link in my sig, you will be able to find it in the North America section.

[TheReadMenace]

What if you live in a Right-to-Work state?


Andrew