We have all heard that fewer and fewer workers are unionized these days, and those that still are regularly have to accept contracts that don’t serve their interests very well. It seems as though workers everywhere are forced to accept more and more compromises in their compensation, and on the job. What can be done about this?
This discussion paper sketches a vision of how workers can fight back, a vision which we hope will open up a larger conversation. “Direct Unionism” gives a clear and straightforward description of what it means to build up power in the workplace on the basis of direct collective action, rather than union contracts. We believe that workers win their struggles in the workplace because of their ability to disrupt business, not because they have official recognition from the employer. In that spirit, we have put together specific scenarios for organizing and taking action day to day, week to week, and month to month. These are the kinds of models and plans we believe workers everywhere can put to concrete use.
This discussion paper sketches a vision of how workers can fight back, a vision which we hope will open up a larger conversation. “Direct Unionism” gives a clear and straightforward description of what it means to build up power in the workplace on the basis of direct collective action, rather than union contracts. We believe that workers win their struggles in the workplace because of their ability to disrupt business, not because they have official recognition from the employer. In that spirit, we have put together specific scenarios for organizing and taking action day to day, week to week, and month to month. These are the kinds of models and plans we believe workers everywhere can put to concrete use.