Another Factory to Move

[Social Greenman]

The apathy I speak of is what is demonstrated by workers. This is always gets me. When a factory closes the workers shrug their shoulders and take it while the equipment is moved out and the building left vacant. No protest, no blocking the movers, nothing but "Oh well, I better go back to night school and learn something else while I am collecting unemployment and with some luck I just might make half of what I use to."

[STI]

Well, at this stage in history the working class is very defeated, demoralized, and such. Unfortunately, most workers likely don't see any way of stopping it from happening, and others lack the class-confidence to think it'd work.

[h&s]

The union leadership constantly saying that they need to co-operate with the bosses hardly helps either.

[Organic Revolution]

its because the communists, and capitalists tell them they needto work for the bosses. the only difference is that communists tell them that the end result is revolution.

[violencia.Proletariat]

Originally posted by rise [email protected] 16 2005, 09:40 AM
its because the communists, and capitalists tell them they needto work for the bosses. the only difference is that communists tell them that the end result is revolution.
what do you mean by this?

[Social Greenman]

h&s wrote:


The union leadership constantly saying that they need to co-operate with the bosses hardly helps either.

Actually this is a union shop and since the factory has broken the contract the workers are entitled to $600.00 bonus clause or something like that. Yes workers are demoralise but are compensated by the government to some degree. But on the other hand, the workers will lose their senority and will never make what they did make. I don't understand why not a single person will say, "Enough is enough," and do something like making sure the machine don't work before they are shipped out. It would be great if workers would just throw out "the bosses" and just run the factories themselves.

[STI]

Actually this is a union shop and since the factory has broken the contract the workers are entitled to $600.00 bonus clause or something like that

And if the union bureaucrats weren't class-traiting collaborationists, they'd advise the workers to occupy the factory instead of taking some shitty $600 severance.

[Social Greenman]

Yes I agree STI. The policy of trade unions is bureaucratic and often goes along with whatever the capitalist class want. However, I do think there is more to this. I know this fellow on the internet for a number of years now and he wrote this:


In the late 1980s the Swedish Social Democratic Worker's Party tried a program in which Sweden's workers could buy industry from its capitalist owners. This program met with resistance from a sizeable portion of Sweden's workers for the reason you stated: They, like many American workers, were afraid of actually owning and governing their workplaces. In the end the program was so watered down that no more than 50% of industry's stocks could be owned by the workers, and, further, the program was made experimental and would expire in 1994 (? ... I'm not certain if this is the correct date).

Following the financial disaster in Argentina, however, many bankrupt capitalist firms were occupied by their workers. The situation was very unlike that in Sweden. These occupations happened outside of all state action. In fact, the state has tried to oust the workers. The workers have organized production, repairs, finance, and distribution for themselves in order to keep these business in operation. It has been a constant struggle for them, and I'm not sure how many of these factories remain under worker control now three, four, and five years after the fact. There was considerable contension over what should be done too. The statist parties of the left tried to persuade the state to nationalize these industries and put them under the supervisory of the government, but to retain, by and large, worker control. On the other hand, many of the workers themselves have insisted that worker control is working and that the state should not be involved any further than to guarantee their right to occupy and use these businesses.

I am beginning to believe that workers in advanced capitalist nations are better subjected to propaganda than other countries. This is why Argentinian workers just took over and ran industries while Sweden, on the other hand, resisted. As an experiment, just ask your fellow workers if they believe that they themselves could operate the jobsite without the owner. Jot down the different answers.

[h&s]

And if the union bureaucrats weren't class-traiting collaborationists, they'd advise the workers to occupy the factory instead of taking some shitty $600 severance.

Exactly. Thats why the careerists need to be kicked out. Which, is surprisingly easy with a little organisation during times of struggle.

[Social Greenman]

I agree that the careerist need to be "kicked out." But worker apathy still exist and I wonder what straw would break the camel's back?

[BitchBrew]

"TV is opium for the people." ;)

[h&s]

Originally posted by Social [email protected] 18 2005, 10:07 AM
I agree that the careerist need to be "kicked out." But worker apathy still exist and I wonder what straw would break the camel's back?
Worker's don't have any apathy where their jobs are concerened.
Often they do nothing because they are demoralised, not realising what they can do. Getting workers to think collectively, by working in the factories with them, is the way to get them to stand up for themselves.

[Social Greenman]

h&s wrote:

Worker's don't have any apathy where their jobs are concerened.
Often they do nothing because they are demoralised, not realising what they can do. Getting workers to think collectively, by working in the factories with them, is the way to get them to stand up for themselves.

Okay, some are apathetic but others feel powerless over the situation and pretty much accept the outcome. Even if they new what to do would they do it?