Que paguin els amos!: Per què necessitem sindicats

Outspoken

by Eve Livingston, Lourdes Bigorra Cervelló (Traducció)

Un manifest i anàlisi clars i punyents contra l'explotació laboral i per repensar un sindicalisme adaptat als nostres temps.



Amb el món canviant a una velocitat vertiginosa i els treballadors i treballadores abocades al caprici de les aplicacions, a amos dèspotes i a contractes precaris, per què ens hem de preocupar pels sindicats? És que no són només per a treballadors industrials de cabells blancs i de mitjana edat?

Efectivament, molts sindicats semblen estar atrapats en el passat, i hi ha un desprestigi general dels sindicats, alimentat per la patronal. Però a la vegada sorgeixen experiències de lluites laborals inspiradores, des de vagues en sectors precaritzats fins a l’adaptació de sindicats per defensar els drets en l’era digital.

Parlant amb acadèmics, experts, i sindicalistes de base, Eve Livingston explora com s’organitzen els i les joves treballadores per exigir uns llocs de treball justos, i reimagina com s’hauria d’articular un moviment sindical inclusiu que representi a tots els sectors.

La consigna segueix sent que la unitat de la lluita pot canviar el curs de la història, i els nostres amos ho saben. Sí, tu també necessites un sindicat. I el teu sindicat també et necessita!

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Sociology, Labor, Feminism, Activism, Social Justice

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2021

Reviews

[Sarah Jaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Blurb forthcoming, add it to your lists, kids.

[Ziggi Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

After starting this I went and bought the entire Pluto press series because I can tell these are well-researched and right in line with my view of the world. I come away from this quick read inspired to effect collective change, and I feel empowered to make a difference.

[Neil Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was interesting, but didn't cover what I really wanted to know. How unions can move away from getting a larger slice of the stolen loot towards actually helping the global south retain the value taken from them

[Sean Kippin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumphant debut by a truly special talent.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my (albeit short) working life many questions have surfaced around work. To identify a few:

- Why do I associate so much value to work, especially to being productive/efficient?
- Why is it so easy to develop an unhealthy work/life balance?
- Why is discussing salary/benefits with work colleagues difficult/seen as taboo?

If you’ve asked these or similar questions, or are curious about understanding your relationship with work and class, then understanding capitalism, trade unions, and the relationship between them is likely a good start, for which this book is perfect.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Navigating workplace culture as individuals rather than in the collective means that we have to face challenges alone, forced to perceive our peers as competitors rather than allies, and building our own personal management strategies instead of looking to a union to collectivise our experience.

This book was clear, to the point and necessary.
I will definitely recommend it :)

[Jon Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn’t answer every question one might have on how unions can change things - but perhaps that’s half the point Eve Livingston is making here. Much of what unions can do in the modern day is a known unknown at this point. Certainly got me thinking.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

For Livingston, the workers are too imbecile to earn their living. They need someone smarter than them, say like Livingston. And Livingston's solution is eternal slavery to the all-powerful Syndicate.

[Josie Rushin · Rating 4 out of 5]

non-fiction about the importance of unions. i listened to this as an audiobook which worked. i have read another from this series which was equally as informative. i would recommend this to anyone curious about unions and look forward to reading more from this series.

[Lily Gee Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, and particularly instructive and valuable to read whilst in the midst of union rep training. Felt many of the issues explored in this book quite viscerally this week.

[Kara Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Who needs unions? ...
Do you rely on work to survive?
If so, you need a union.
If you're not a boss, you need a union."

"A union, then, is solidarity. It is representation, protection, advocacy. It is higher wages, equal pay, health and safety, and sick leave. It is mobilizing and organizing. It is picket lines and negotiations and marches and meetings. It is thinking and talking and building and planning. It is hope and optimism, fury and justice. It is as strong as its members and as weak as its members. It is a bond between people w shared interests and a commitment to one another. It is strength in numbers and power beyond parliament. It is reclaiming control over your life and taking a stand against the elites. It is base-building, ideology-forming, class-consciousness raising. It is local and national and global. It is you and me and the millions of others beside us who can see a better future and are ready to forge it. A union is the workers and the workers are the union."

There is no trait I like more in the world than being passionate about justice. Author Eve Livingston encompasses that w/out a doubt! ... This book is clear, engaging, crucial and heartfelt. Please read it!

[Lyka Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's very short and a good way. It doesn't always stay as well. Come and gets to its point quickly. Sometimes this can be a bit of a curse as I feel it does not cover topics enough detail, but that's not the point of the book. The book is meant to be simple, easy to pick up and read, in which case it succeeds massively. I think chapter 7 is the peak of the book because it covers an interesting perspective and topic. Would recommend to anyone and I will considerate a must read for anyone especially those going into work or at university.

[Syirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty introductory, but provides an excellent overview that I think those of us involved in the union movement should read anyway. I didn't expect to learn anything majorly new, but it gave me a good analysis to share with those newer to the movement.

I feel like those not in a union won't feel like buying this themselves, so the book is a cool resource to signpost to others. It also has a very positive, hopeful tone that I found nice considering the hellscape that is the UK political sphere rn.

[Piotr Manasterski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 for me. Interesting analysis on how to improve the union movement. Some of her fundamental arguments I disagree on, likely because we are on different sides of the political spectrum. Having said that, I did learn quite a few things from this book and quite a few points I do agree with her on. I would recommend this book to both the reader that is pro- and anti-union.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, practical, and inspiring. Livingston offers a refreshing picture of how unions can adapt to modern labor issues, becoming more inclusive and powerful by creatively addressing material concerns for a wider pool of workers.

[James Renaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contextualises the current position of the labour movement and young workers, dispelling myths between that relationship and offers potential tactics to rebuild union power in the contemporary conditions.

[Duncan McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely, and hopeful, argument for unions and their need to adapt to this day and age.

[Sam Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

really accessible, great arguments. everyone interested in making work a little bit less hard work should read this

[Blake Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every young worker needs to read this book!

[Lucas Bertholdi-Saad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see more books about unions, but not very rigorous...

[Ben G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling, lots of good ideas.

[freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

i do not work so i cant unionise but when i do i will be

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.65

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super insightful chapter on hospitality - highlights the intricacies of the industry and notes throughout the book how one size certainly does not fit all

[Mary Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was completely absorbed by this book!

Get empowered, diversify your union, FUCK HR!!!!

[Lewis Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst the arguments in the book are sound, Livingston writes in a rather confrontational tone which isn’t particularly to my liking. Arguments are coherent and well sourced, I agreed with most of the points in the book and would recommend it to any “leftie” or someone looking to learn more about the union movement!

Join a Union…