Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 14:04:49 +0100 (MET)
Subject: Re: M-G: Re: so- called deformed workers states    


>> Maleck wrote;
>> Why Neil! Why should the Trotskyists change their position on trade union 
>> work? I mean the Transitional program is still quite and effective weapon. 

David replied; 
>> >
>Isn't that the program based on telling workers to demand things that 
>capitalism cannot deliver and in the process sound like a reformist? The 
>class example in recent years, has been the demand that the capitalists 
>get rid of unemployment.

 Communists do not demand that the capitalists do anything! But we do have a 
series of transitional demands linked to among other things trade union 
struggle like the sliding scale of wages. Or do you think that what should 
abstain from the daily strruggles of the class? 
>> 
>> > Trade UNIONS today are not "opposition" as they were in the pre-imperialist
>> >epoch of capitalism , there has been qualitative changes .
>> >Of course communists work in them to have access to the ranks
>> >and also to keep their jobs! 

Oh I see. You work in them to keep you jobs! 
>
>In the "pre-imperialist" period (ie 19th century) trade unions were 
>confined to skilled workers and were exceedingly conservative. 

There is a big difference in skilled trades and the mass trade unions of 
today. Most of the people I know are certainly not "skilled workers" in the 
above meaning. But are members of the union because it is the organisation 
that represents their interests against the bosses.

Bob Malecki

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