Posted by Phil Dickens on 19/07/2011 · 2 Comments
I’ve written a number of pieces now on anarchist activity within the trade union movement. In particular, I’d point to Trade unions, worker militancy, and communism from below, What is anarcho-syndicalism: revolutionary unionism, Anarcho-syndicalism and the limits of trade unionism, and my most recent post on Building the rank-and-file. However, these have all focused primarily on the difference between … Read more
Filed under Debate and discourse · Tagged with 4themembers, anarcho-syndicalism, Anton Pannekoek, association, boring-from-within, Buenaventua Durruti, building the new world in the shell of the old, CGT, CNT, DAM, direct action, Direct Action Movement, FORA, Independent Left, Joseph Kay, left unity, militant workers, PCS, rank-and-file organisation, representatives, revolutionary union, SF, SolFed, Solidarity Federation, trade union, Workers Solidarity Federation, Workers Solidarity movement, workplace committee
Posted by Phil Dickens on 28/02/2011 · 8 Comments
The following is a draft text which I hope to incorporate into a pamphlet in the near future. The intention is to draw together the different strands of discussion and theory regarding the fight against the cuts and to provide a broader argument for an anarcho-syndicalist strategy in this struggle. As with every blog I … Read more
Filed under Anarchism · Tagged with anarcho-syndicalism, austerity measures, Capitalism, city councils, class struggle, community organising, cuts, economic blockade, electoralism, Emile Pouget, general strike, Government, grassroots, Green, industrial action, Labour, Lib Dem, Militant Tendency, occupation, PCS, Quintin Hogg, rank-and-file, self-organisation, sit-in, socialism, strategy, strike, the cuts, there is an alternative, Tory, trade unionism, winning the argument
Posted by Phil Dickens on 13/02/2011 · 4 Comments
One statement that I quite often make is that I’m not a trade unionist. This can confuse those who know me, because I am a member and active rep within the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). However, though I believe in worker organisation as a part of class struggle and the challenge to capitalism, … Read more
Filed under Anarchism · Tagged with anarcho-syndicalism, Anton Pannekoek, bottom-up organisation, bureaucracy, Capitalism, class unity, class war, closed shop, collective decision making, CWU, full time officials, industrial peace, labour power, leadership, mass participation, mediation, militancy, partnership with bosses, PCS, rank-and-file, reformism, regulating class conflicts, revolutionary unions, scab, self-organisation, SolFed, trade union, trade unionism, union reps, union scab, worker assembly, working class
Posted by Phil Dickens on 19/01/2011 · 1 Comment
On 26th March, the Trades Union Congress are calling a march in London against the government’s austerity measures. This has reignited one of the longest-running debates in activist politics: that of peaceful protest versus direct action. In particular, the line is drawn between those worried that a violent minority will hijack the event and distract … Read more
Filed under Debate and discourse · Tagged with anarcho-syndicalism, Ben Ali, demobilisation, demonstration, demonstration of anger, direct action, FAU, Gilles Dauvé, International Workers Association, IWA, Liberal Conspracy, march, movement building, passive protest, PCS, peaceful protest, popular discontent, Public and Commercial Services union, reformism, revolt, revolution, safety valve, solidarity, Solidarity Federation, Subway sacked worker, Sunny Hundal, Topy Top sacked workers, TUC, Tunisia, Yarls' Wood, ZSP
Posted by Phil Dickens on 15/08/2010 · 4 Comments
Charity, defined biblically, is an unlimited loving kindness towards others. It’s a virtue, and one that is recognised far beyond the Christian faith. After all, who could argue that giving to those less fortunate is wrong? Anarchist communism would seem to be precisely the philosophy that encourages charity. The basic mantra of “from each according … Read more
Filed under Debate and discourse · Tagged with abolish wage slavery, anarchist communism, Big Society, Capitalism, charity, community organisation, cooperatives, credit unions, CrimeThinc, David Cameron, fire your boss, Infoshop, IWW, LibCom, libertarian communism, Liverpool Solidarity Federation, Merseyside Anarchists, Molly McClure, mutual aid, PCS, politicians, radicalism, reformism, Rolling Thunder, self-managed exploitation, solidarity, Spanish Revolution, the Commune, vultures, workers collectives
Posted by Phil Dickens on 24/04/2010 · 4 Comments
Anarchists, particularly anarcho-syndicalists, are often highly critical of both the form and function of mainstream trade unions. Perhaps the most incisive critique comes from a postal worker, reflecting on the sell-out by the Communication Worker’s Union (CWU) for The Other Campaign; Because the leaders of the CWU are so remote from the daily lives of … Read more
Filed under Debate and discourse · Tagged with Anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism, Billy Hayes, bosses, bureaucracy, class war, convenors, CWU, Derek Simpson, health and safety reps, middle class socialists, PCS, revolutionary ghetto, shop stewards, Solidarity Federation, trade unions, union reps, Unite, workers' struggles, working class
