The latest addition to our collection:
The Couriers are Revolting!
The Despatch Industry Workers Union, 1989-92
Published in 2000 by Kate Sharpley Library
1. Nothing to Lose but Your Chains...
Starting a union can be exciting, risky, hard work, and a right good laugh. The financial rewards might be little or none, but the satisfaction of getting some justice can be enormous. Even when nothing seems to go right there still exists the solidarity of comradeship. It was ironic (or flattering!) that the bosses with all their money and power were so scared of our humble union. We were only an ordinary group of workers who had sod-all money or power. But when the bosses hear the word “union” they invariably get into a proper fluster, terrified that their privileges will be challenged.
Of course our unionisation efforts were small potatoes compared to epic social events such as the Miners Strike, the Poll Tax rebellion, etc. But we hoped that we could provide an example or inspiration for workers to organise similarly in other industries. Workers like YOU! Read on...
What is syndicalism?
In a nutshell, syndicalism is the theory and practice of abolishing capitalism through a revolutionary labor movement. Much has been written on the topic, which brings us to...
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— Tom Brown in What’s Wrong with the Unions? A Syndicalist Answer