New Forms of Worker Organization: The Syndicalist and Autonomist Restoration of Class Struggle Unionism

by Immanuel Ness, Staughton Lynd

Bureaucratic labour unions are under assault throughout the world. Most unions have surrendered the achievements of the mid-20th century, when the working class was a militant force for change throughout the world. The decline of labour unions has exposed workers throughout the world to capitalist absolutism, and now many workers are rejecting leaders and forming unions rooted in direct action. This is the first book to compile workers struggles on a global basis, examining the formation and expansion of radical unions in the Global South and Global North.

Genres: Labor, Politics

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Rohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty okay survey of various labor struggles happening across the world that do not follow traditional models of unionism and/or espouse a radical leftist ideology. The analysis in most of the essays weren't particularly deep or even that interesting, but often tell interesting stories (particularly the essays on the IWW in the US and UK). Overall a good book if one is looking for an introduction to radical unionism.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. A bunch of these chapters were very interesting. I most enjoyed the chapters on IWW organizing at Jimmy John's and the cleaners campaign in the UK because it was much more about the ground and less about overarching strategy. Without getting into that much detail, I'd highly recommend this compilation and am looking forward to reading more of Ness' stuff in the future.

[Mills College Library]

331.88 N532 2014