Re: AUT: Unions (was Anarchism & Conflicts)

[guy debord <commie00@xxxxxxxxx>]

it is not fear of co-optation that drives me from
unions, but the fact of co-optation. ((i'm also
irritated at anarcho-syndicalism because every time
it's had a chance to make revolution, it has failed.
in spain, anarcho-syndicalism inspired millions of
workers. but the anarcho-syndicalist union hierarchy
betrayed them, and (i feel) are complicit in their
murders.))

my point is this: as a revolutionary possibility,
unions are a dead end. they are now part of the
capitalist system. reformist at best.

if there was a union in the place i work, i would join
it, however. but i would be a critical member,
constantly arguing for autonomous action and against
allowing the union to be "us", or make any decisions
for us. i know this because i've done so in the past.
this is not because of any lingering dillusions about
unions, but because it would be stupid to separate
myself from my fellow workers in such an obvious way.

if someone wants to use the union for reformist ends
(preserving wages, getting benefits, etc.), at least
do it honestly. don't pretend that what you are doing
is somehow revolutionary. ((in my experience, these
gains are better got thru autonomous struggle (wildcat
strikes, etc.), outside and often *against* the unions
(to use that tired phrase again), then thru any action
on the part of a union leadership bargaining or
whatever.))

guy
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