From: glevy-AT-acnet.pratt.edu
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 06:16:16 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: the working class


Sandy Ryan wrote:

> I am confused about something. I had always assumed that under 
> capitalism you are employed only so long as your employment produces 
> profits for capitalists. Now I'm not so sure.

In terms of employment by capitalists, most wage-earners are productive 
[of surplus value] laborers. Capitalists also must hire workers who are 
unproductive of surplus value but are required for the transformation of 
s into profit (for instance, most workers involved in retail sales). 
Additionally, they must hire non-wage earners to coerce workers, i.e. 
increase the intensity of labor and discipline workers (e.g. 
supervisors).

> Could someone please answer the following question: > > "Do service 
sector workers create surplus value?"

Commodities can take a material form or be services (on that Marx was 
clear). Consequently, service sector workers can produce surplus value if 
they are employed by capitalists (and exempting certain sectors, like 
banking -- a complicated question).

If service sector employees are employed by the state, they are paid wages 
>from revenues rather than directly producing surplus value (another 
thorny question).

The important thing to keep in mind is that one does not have to produce 
s to be a part of the working class.

Jerry


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