Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 18:24:40 +1000
From: sjwright-AT-vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au (Steve Wright)
Subject: Re: 12-Hr. Workday and Control over Time


Joshu-AT- wrote:

>I am pretty sure the struggle for a guarateed income is one of those that
>would require more effort that just reorganizing (read overthrowing)
>society to reflect our needs and desires, which I think would not include
>money or income. Changes in working conditions begin on the level of the

I agree that a free society would have neither money nor 'income': I was
just thinking about the debates about using a guaranteed income for all as
a way of beginning *now* to break the link  between the compulsion to work
and the satisfaction of our needs and desires. Mauro has criticised this
notion in an earlier post (did anyone translate it? - I can't remember, and
now with a kid around, i have less time for translating than I'd like) -
what do others think?

>Work outside waged labor: What sense of "work" are you using? Do you mean
>general productive activity ( eg.working in your garden) or obligatory
>contributions of your time that are not payed (eg. school work, transit)?

I was mostly thinking of the unwaged work involved in readying us to fit in
with the demands of the labour market. But talk of 'general productive
activity' raises the whole debate about whether there can be 'work' (freely
defined activity) that isn't 'work' (slaving for capital).


>I generally shy away from lists of demands. Sounds too much like militant
>begging. But I can see the use in certain situatuations. When "reasonable"
>demands are not met, it can certainly radicalize folks. I've certainly seen
>that in this contract conflict we're in now. I also see the use of certain
>"bandaids" that perhaps make life a little easier without really
>threatening capital. I think we are saying the same thing here. When I
>talked about reduction of work hours as reformist act that ultimately can
>make qualitative change, that is the same as "apparently piecemeal gains
>which actually work to undermine the basis of capital".

Yes, I think there is usually something wrong with the sort of shopping
lists of demands that so much of the trotskyist left draws up - that's why
I mentioned the old Transitional Programme. But since I am equally
skeptical of those positions which reduce revolution to the act of
insurrection, I still want to know what if any spaces can be won against
capital and the state in the short term. Then again, maybe the two can't be
so easily counterposed like this . . .

>I haven't read the papers much lately, but a couple months ago, there were
>periodic articles on the possibility. I think the AFL-CIO actually said
>something about it. On a personal level I had a pleasant surprise when we
>started talking about the contract. I had always assumed that I was in a
>minority that prefered to keep the flexibility even if it meant lower wages
>that we could otherwise get. But as we organized to fight the contract
>proposal that scrapped our freedom, I found even the drivers who are always
>bucking to pick up overtime were immobile when it came to the right to take
>off work. They may want to work a lot, but they still insist on control
>over WHEN. And there are significant numbers of folks like me who would
>rather work less, live frugally, and have more freedom.

One of the most striking aspects of working class politics at the moment
seems to be precisely these marked variations in 'wants', particularly in
terms of paid work. I take your part about the WHEN - how in your case do
those you work with nut out a contract that they're all happy with?

'work less, live frugally, and have more freedom' - once I would agreed
with the first and last sentiments as a matter of course, and been
horrified by the phrase 'live frugally'. These days I tend to agree with
you, if frugally means a life not centred upon the personal pursuit of
material possessions. Today, the most important want I have is time itself.
On the other hand, there aren't many 'things' I want more of these days -
books and CDs for sure, but these I am happy to share. Maybe just a faster
computer (the 90s version of the impotent male's quest for a faster car?)
and more opportunities to travel . . . But then I'm also conscious that I
occupy a reasonably amenable niche within the international hierarchy of
labour power.

Steve

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