Worker Centres: Locations of Class Power

by Notes from Below

This issue of Notes from Below is on worker centres. Worker centres are place-based organisations that often focus on supporting low-wage or migrant workers who are not already in unions or covered by collective bargaining. The issue explores what forms of organisations can support worker struggles, particularly those in hard-to-organise sectors. This forms part of an ongoing Notes from Below project to support worker organising in Tower Hamlets, London.

Across the issue, we have brought together a collection of pieces that share experiences of organising through worker centres. It includes interviews about organising in Tower Hamlets, previous projects in London, worker centres in Montréal, the US, and South Africa, as well as social centres in Italy.

72 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explores worker centres as a place-based force for class struggle.

Where the pieces particularly succeed is in making plain the failures of traditional trade unionism in supporting and adapting to the rapid rise of the precariat class. Conversely, it's a sobering read about the realities and challenges of trying to support this class from (generally underfunded) worker centres.

Highlights:
- Nick Clark's experiences with the The Portuguese Workers Project.
- Unite Community as a structure for solidarity with the unemployed/disabled.