Subject: Re: RA: The Syndicalist Union and why we need it now
From: pmargin-AT-xchange.apana.org.au (Profit Margin)
Date: Sat, 08 Jun 96 11:47:06 AEDT


Path: xchange!news
From: ra-AT-alor.univ-montp3.fr (Ronald Creagh, Moderator, Research on Anarchism List)
Newsgroups: mail.roa
Subject: Re: RA: The Syndicalist Union and why we need it now
Message-ID: <v01530502adddf2fb0342-AT-[193.52.136.175]>
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 16:55:10 +0200
Sender: news-AT-xchange.apana.org.au

Date:      Wed, 05 Jun 1996 00:18:45 +1000
>From: "Doug Woodgate" <dougw-AT-chaos.apana.org.au>
Organization: Government is Chaos   Sydney Australia
To: ra-AT-alor.univ-montp3.fr

Hi Folks,
        Here is a reply from Jeremy Dixon, the author of the Syndicalist
article.  (snail mailed, and then typed, mistakes mine)  I haven't attempted
to rethread it into the message.

I'd queried him about whether he meant anarcho-syndicalism:

"syndicalism" basically to mean "workers power unionism" e.g. IWW, not
_necessarily_ anarcho

----transcribed msg-----
>From: J.Dixon  (jeremy-AT-chaos.apana.org.au)
Date: 28-5-96

Reply to Andrew Flood.
Just briefly on the main points you raise.  The "general strike" as I see it
does not have to be internationally organised but may be confined to a
specific region functioning as a political unit. The general strike is
essentially political in nature, in that it threatens the ruling power,
rather than a single employer. The political units I had in mind were the
Australian States. National and International organisation to support or
join the general strike is of course desirable, and in the special case of a
revolutionary general strike most likely essential.

  "Large strikes tend to come from successful smaller ones" you comment; my
point in part is that even small strikes, if they involve major issues, are
unlikely in the present climate to be successful unless there is a climate
of readiness for a general strike.
By "major issues" I simply mean issues that the employer is determined to
win even at the cost of short term sacrifices, and in which the employer is
broadly supported by the ruling class. If a group of workers don't like
their foreman, that is probably a minor issue. If they want a 25% payrise
that is probably a major one.  A strike to get rid of an unpopular foreman
probably does not involve "major confrontation" , while the 25% pay claim
probably does.  I realise that the "present climate" may be different in
Ireland. Is it?

I don't claim that " the inevitable march of history can be relied on to
introduce mass anarcho-syndicalist unions"  Rather I claim that mainstream
or "reformist" unionism is failing to protect workers against what you call
"neo-liberalism" and seems to be incapable of doing so.  Further, I claim
that it is unlikely to bring us closer to libertarian revolution; but that a
general strike movement can do both these tasks, and unify them.

"The old trade-union movement is on its death bed" as a movement for workers
empowerment.  Considered as an appendage of the capitalist system it may
well have a bright future.

The structure of a "general strike movement" (which is the form I think a
syndicalist union should take) is not to be copied from the CNT, the IWW or
anyone else. It is to be developed to suit present circumstances.
I agree with you that the syndicalist union in this form should not exclude
non-Anarchist tendencies and that it is probably not itself adequate to
bring about the "anarchist society".  But it is adequate to destroy the
class system which is a good start.

Anyway I have to stop. I hope you find that my comments are worth a reply.

-----end transcribe---
phew says this slow typist  :-)

regards,  Doug



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