File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_2001/anarchy-list.0106, message 128


Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 21:32:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve <intexile-AT-bari.iww.org>
Subject: Re: [anarchism] Tree Spiking


On Mon, 11 Jun 2001, Michael A. Lewis wrote:

>     Exactly! Unions are, or have become, centralized authoritarian
> structures not in keeping with anarchist principles. We can organize in the
> workplace, but only from worker initiative.
>
>     Michael

Have you ever been in a union dude?  What your saying is a blanket
generalization.  While most mainstream unions do suck, to a large extent,
I don't by the argument that unions are *inherently* centralized
authoritarian structures.  The CNT in Spain sure wasn't, and the IWW isn't
either.  As far as maintream unions go, there is a shitload more
decentralized tendencies and the freedom to use them in the ILWU than,
say, the UFCW or SEIU.  Methinks you don't know what you are talking
about.

I would choose union work over non-union work any day.  Unions aren't the
be-all and end-all, but a revolutionary union can be part of the solution.
Sabotage without some organized strategy is not likely to lead to very
much.  Keep in mind that anarchists tried all this over a century ago and
many of them concluded that workers organizations were needed.  I don't
buy the anti-union anarchist / council communist line.  In practics it
hasn't accomplished much.

Meanwhile, the IWW was able organize timber workers in 1917 and actually
won the eight-hour day.  This was done with direct action ("sabotage" and
"monkeywrenching" yes, but it was *organized*).

-- 
In Solidarity,
-Steve Ongerth, IWW

Join the One Big Union!	-- http://www.iww.org/
East Bay IWW -- http://bari.iww.org/eastbay/

ORGANIZE YOUR WORKPLACE:
http://bari.iww.org/homesites/organize.html


   

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