Angry Workers of the World: book, projects, plans…

[LDC]

Some of you might have heard about Angry Workers of the World (Angry Workers of the World: About) but there’s a few things going on with them and other comrades that I hope might be of interest to some on here so I thought it might be worth a thread.

AWW are a small political collective that have been organising in the workplaces and areas of West London for the last 6 years. They’re written a book about their experiences and you can get a copy of that here Order and here are some reviews of that:

Class Power on Zero-Hours
What a way to make a living: Class Power on Zero Hours
Three Class Struggles and a Funeral
From a ready meals factory … to social revolution

On top of this AWW and some other folks have been chatting a new initiative and this has come out of that (here Let's Get Rooted) and following on from that they’ll be a conference later this year Founding conference – For working class strategy and organisation

Anyway, there ya go.

 

[LDC]

Series of interviews being done.

Explanation and questions here Interview Series: Workers’ Power during the Lockdown

And the first one is with a London Underground worker Lockdown Interviews – London Underground Worker

 

[ska invita]

I think I read about (1950s/60s?) US Communists doing a similar thing, namely getting jobs (for life) in factory jobs and playing a role in unionising. My memory is so bad... But I think over time some of these people ended up with really well paying, top of the the hierarchy jobs, which created some issues.

But yeah, this was an era where unionised industry in the US could lead to really good terms and conditions.

 

[petee]

I think I read about (1950s/60s?) US Communists doing a similar thing, namely getting jobs (for life) in factory jobs and playing a role in unionising. My memory is so bad... But I think over time some of these people ended up with really well paying, top of the the hierarchy jobs, which created some issues.

But yeah, this was an era where unionised industry in the US could lead to really good terms and conditions.

The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party: Jack Barnes: 9781604881103: Amazon.com: Books

The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party [Jack Barnes] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party

www.amazon.com

The ‘turn to industry’: what happened when left activists joined the working class? - Overland literary journal

In the late 1970s in New Zealand, a group of young people in their twenties left their middle-class lives and got working-class jobs, joined working-class unions and lived in working-class communities. Why? They were activists and communists and they wanted to bring radical politics to the...

overland.org.au

 

[ska invita]

The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party: Jack Barnes: 9781604881103: Amazon.com: Books

The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party [Jack Barnes] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party

www.amazon.com

The ‘turn to industry’: what happened when left activists joined the working class? - Overland literary journal

In the late 1970s in New Zealand, a group of young people in their twenties left their middle-class lives and got working-class jobs, joined working-class unions and lived in working-class communities. Why? They were activists and communists and they wanted to bring radical politics to the...

overland.org.au

thanks for that--- link following on from there
the US tradition of "Salting"

Let’s Get to Work

www.jacobinmag.com

 

[ska invita]

Finished reading Class Power on Zero Hours... Lots of really good things about it...i like the emphasis on reality fact-based strategy, and its always cheering to read stories of successful fightback, and also the workers inquiry bit into food production was really interesting. Its not an easy read, and I didn't take everything in as well as I'd have liked.

I'm curious how many people were involved in the books writing, and roughly what person wrote what section.

One chapter that lost me was #14 Revolutionary Transitions, which felt like the proposals were way beyond where british people are at, and a big step away from the earlier reality-based approach, more one of personal preferred visions.

There are bits i need to get my head around better, as seemed really important, like the section on Uneven Development. I'm a slow learner so need to go over that.

The biggest question really for me is how is this really different from what Base (syndicalist) Unions do? I know this is addressed in the book more than once, but I'm still unconvinced of the difference. I can't see how official unions wouldn't come to be formed out of worker-led solidarity work, as soon as any sense of scaling up is achieved or necessary. There's one bit where having talked down such unions it was decided to work with IWW anyway, to get the benefits they could offer.

I understand the desire to avoid seemingly external expertise and keep everything alive and kicking amongst people (workers) themselves, but seems to me institutions arise out of need and scale, and I'm sceptical this is avoidable.

LynnDoyleCooper?

 

[Dom Traynor]

The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party: Jack Barnes: 9781604881103: Amazon.com: Books

The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party [Jack Barnes] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party

www.amazon.com

The ‘turn to industry’: what happened when left activists joined the working class? - Overland literary journal

In the late 1970s in New Zealand, a group of young people in their twenties left their middle-class lives and got working-class jobs, joined working-class unions and lived in working-class communities. Why? They were activists and communists and they wanted to bring radical politics to the...

overland.org.au

Some of those SAL and former Workers Communist League people are still around including some who are quite senior in the unions and the Labour Party and who play a fairly positive role.

 

[LDC]

Finished reading Class Power on Zero Hours... Lots of really good things about it...i like the emphasis on reality fact-based strategy, and its always cheering to read stories of successful fightback, and also the workers inquiry bit into food production was really interesting. Its not an easy read, and I didn't take everything in as well as I'd have liked.

I'm curious how many people were involved in the books writing, and roughly what person wrote what section.

One chapter that lost me was #14 Revolutionary Transitions, which felt like the proposals were way beyond where british people are at, and a big step away from the earlier reality-based approach, more one of personal preferred visions.

There are bits i need to get my head around better, as seemed really important, like the section on Uneven Development. I'm a slow learner so need to go over that.

The biggest question really for me is how is this really different from what Base (syndicalist) Unions do? I know this is addressed in the book more than once, but I'm still unconvinced of the difference. I can't see how official unions wouldn't come to be formed out of worker-led solidarity work, as soon as any sense of scaling up is achieved or necessary. There's one bit where having talked down such unions it was decided to work with IWW anyway, to get the benefits they could offer.

I understand the desire to avoid seemingly external expertise and keep everything alive and kicking amongst people (workers) themselves, but seems to me institutions arise out of need and scale, and I'm sceptical this is avoidable.

LynnDoyleCooper?

Urgh, that needs a long answer. I'll get back to you.

 

[ska invita]

Urgh, that needs a long answer. I'll get back to you.

Don't feel obliged, like I say it is broached in the book, I'm just not totally convinced

 

[Duncan2]

Ah Greenford-one of the hubs used by the multi-national which employs me in the Midlands.Funnily enough it has achieved a degree of notoriety as "the Greenford Triangle" due to the tendency for our stuff to get unaccountably delayed there sometimes until time expired.Now wondering if the AWW are in some way involved??

 

[LDC]

New website and a few interesting projects in the pipeline here...

Home - Angry Workers

www.angryworkers.org

 

[chilango]

Interesting thanks.

 

[hitmouse]

OK, this makes me a feel a bit slow and old, but I have now got around to attempting to listen to the AWW podcast, but it keeps on fucking up and crashing in my phone's browser (Chrome, fwiw). I can see that it seems to be available in like ten different apps, but if I don't want to download a separate app and just listen in my browser, is there anywhere else I can listen to it? And can anyone else open up this link and confirm if it crashes for them, or is it just my phone being weird?

 

[Dom Traynor]

Just download a podcast app like everyone else ffs

 

[hitmouse]

It appears that I might be the only Luddite Worker who has this issue, but fwiw if anyone else experiences it, I found that the breaker.audio version of the podcast works on my phone fine.

In news that might possibly be of interest to more people, I imagine that the Angry Workers might have something to say about this? ‘Creeping culture’ of ‘fire and rehire’ across retail and distribution sectors, warns Unite

 

[hitmouse]

This is happening tomorrow night, may be of interest to some people: Class Power on Zero-Hours with AngryWorkers and Sarah Jaffe

 

[LDC]

Bristol meeting for AWW (and AWW-curious) folks on Friday 10th September...

‘Class Power’ in Bristol? – Discussion and making plans with the AngryWorkers

Hiya fellow workers and rebels, We want to invite you to an evening of discussions, sharing experiences and making plans. When: Friday, 10th of September 2021, 6:30pm Where: Exchange, 72 – 7…

workerswildwest.wordpress.com

 

[hitmouse]

Their new text on NI looks pretty good to me:

Workers in Northern Ireland - Angry Workers

Comrades in Northern Ireland wrote this report on the current local situation and are in process of writing a second part on the current moment's historical background. We hope the texts can contribute to the debate on the relation between 'national conflict' and working class emancipation. We...

www.angryworkers.org

Although referring to Bobby Storey as organising the biggest prison break in British history might be viewed as a poor choice of words by some.

 

[hitmouse]

Bristol this Saturday:

A meeting of AngryWorkers: For workers’ autonomy!

The Angry Workers collective present a day-school of sorts, looking at the high point of the class struggle in recent decades.

prsc.org.uk

Bridging the Divide: Angry Workers Come to Bristol

Block a road in protest and you’re criticised for stopping people getting to work. Boycott a business and you’re doing people out of a job. Prevent a harmful development – an airport, a coal …

thebristolactivist.com

 

[hitmouse]

AWW folk may have seen this already, but seems like there's a plan to form a workersinquiryist US group inspired by AWW:

PREVIEW: New Org, Who Dis – The Antifada – Podcast

Sean met with a whole bunch of listeners and patrons and friends on Discord and described his idea for a new organization. Another meeting coming up on Sunday, July 24th at 3pm EST so be sure to make... – Listen to PREVIEW: New Org, Who Dis by The Antifada instantly on your tablet, phone or...

podtail.com

 

[Fozzie Bear]

An interesting book which is also a good read imo. Now available online for free.

‘Class Power on Zero-Hours’ - Angry Workers

Ammunition for the political autonomy of the working class “AngryWorkers, a small political collective, have spent six years organising in London’s industrial backyard, mainly in the food manufacturing and logistics sector. This book is about their experiences as they try and find new ways of...

www.angryworkers.org

 

[ska invita]

The biggest question really for me is how is this really different from what Base (syndicalist) Unions do? I know this is addressed in the book more than once, but I'm still unconvinced of the difference. I can't see how official unions wouldn't come to be formed out of worker-led solidarity work, as soon as any sense of scaling up is achieved or necessary. There's one bit where having talked down such unions it was decided to work with IWW anyway, to get the benefits they could offer.

I understand the desire to avoid seemingly external expertise and keep everything alive and kicking amongst people (workers) themselves, but seems to me institutions arise out of need and scale, and I'm sceptical this is avoidable.

LynnDoyleCooper?

since the thread has been bumped....can anyone answer my question?

 

[hitmouse]

Dunno, but here's a lengthy discussion about an article on winning the strike wave:

The UK strike wave: discussion of a ‘Notes from Below’ article - Angry Workers

After decades of not much, the UK strike wave signals a shift in class activity. But beyond an increase in the number of strikes, what can we analyse about the content of this ‘class activity?’ We wrote an article about our thoughts on this recently, and were happy to see our comrades from Notes...

www.angryworkers.org

 

[ska invita]

Dunno, but here's a lengthy discussion about an article on winning the strike wave:

The UK strike wave: discussion of a ‘Notes from Below’ article - Angry Workers

After decades of not much, the UK strike wave signals a shift in class activity. But beyond an increase in the number of strikes, what can we analyse about the content of this ‘class activity?’ We wrote an article about our thoughts on this recently, and were happy to see our comrades from Notes...

www.angryworkers.org

Will give it a read....was thinking also that the Angry Worker model seems to have a lot like in common with the emphasis Jane McAlevey puts on organic leaders over anything else. I remember reading a little criticism of that on your Jane McAlevey thread


Overall these all seem like minor talking points rather than criticisms, but thats what threads are for

 

[hitmouse]

The biggest question really for me is how is this really different from what Base (syndicalist) Unions do? I know this is addressed in the book more than once, but I'm still unconvinced of the difference. I can't see how official unions wouldn't come to be formed out of worker-led solidarity work, as soon as any sense of scaling up is achieved or necessary. There's one bit where having talked down such unions it was decided to work with IWW anyway, to get the benefits they could offer.

I understand the desire to avoid seemingly external expertise and keep everything alive and kicking amongst people (workers) themselves, but seems to me institutions arise out of need and scale, and I'm sceptical this is avoidable.

LynnDoyleCooper?

It's been a few years since I read the book, but from what I remember I think that was one of the bits I was least convinced by - irrc, they argue for "class unions" rather than base/syndicalist unions, but I wasn't really clear on the distinction beyond "class unions would have politics we like and not do political stuff that we don't like". But I don't think that they were arguing against formal union organisation as such?

 

[LDC]

The engagement or not with unions is complicated, I'd say that AW mostly in the collective have the ultra-left criticism of unions as reformist and the left wing of capital and unreformable, but get that in most (especially large more traditional 'industrial') workplaces it's just a pragmatic fact that most politicised workers and any emerging struggle is going to involve the unions and will need some engagement with them.

The healthworkers stuff is a current example, both in the way that the struggle emerges through the union but is then contained and fucked up by it. Or look at Enough is Enough for another recent example. Personally I don't organise through or with a union, but do engage with them and accept that often practical co-operation is needed with them and members on some levels.

My position is that AW isn't about forming union structures (or base equivalents) but agitating at work and forming strike committees, worker led occupations, and cross union structures led and driven by the workers themselves, not union officials, and with links to other workplaces and areas of life. It's about forming appropriate political organisations needed for a struggle rather than a union or union-like organisational form. How that actually plays out will be different in different workplaces of course. I think why AW stuff keeps getting compared to 'what union are you like?' is an example of now much unions have enclosed and claimed workplace struggle in the last decades and it's what people think of rather than wider forms of resistance.

The McAlevey stuff is very different I think, that's much more about a technocratic uber-organiser model to win limited demands with, and is isolated to workplaces/industry with little to no articulated revolutionary politics overlaying it.

 

[LDC]

Just to add these, a short (older) AW video and a bit of writing that I think is much more useful in some ways than the book.

Who Are The Angry Workers?

Who Are The AngryWorkers?

en.labournet.tv

Insurrection and Production - Angry Workers

An empirically heavy mind-game for the debate on working class strategy: First steps in a six-month revolutionary transition period in the UK region (a nice pdf.-pamphlet layout of this text can be found here: https://subversionpress.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/insurrection-production/) Dear fellow...

www.angryworkers.org

 

[hitmouse]

Slowly working my way through that big article (the new one I posted, not the old one LDC posted), I liked this bit:

More or less every socialist group in the country is calling for mass assemblies and rank and file committees but we’re yet to see any significant breakthroughs on this front (as a side note I think there are potentially echoes of the Don’t Pay situation here, since so much coordination happens now on Whatsapp or Facebook groups). Traditionally, ultraleftists (e.g. the KAPD) expected workers to make a break for independence when they confronted their existing organisations as a barrier to the realisation of their interests, which has been borne out in various contexts by history. But a common precondition for this break was that workers had already developed skills, confidence and experience precisely through participation in the organisations which they then broke from. In the UK though, nothing so far has indicated any real scope for the generalisation of durable, mass workplace struggles outside of the bounds of the unions. I assume we’d all agree that we should aim to promote the conditions for such a break within the union rank and file, although we probably disagree about how.

I think it makes sense to be pragmatic about this. Spontaneity (in the sense of self-directed activity) exists within the union rank and file and should be encouraged wherever it promotes increased participation and the socialisation of struggles. I think it makes sense on this basis also to push for certain strategies within the union that would promote the development of necessary skills and experience. Something like the Berlin Hospital Movement (a campaign by a huge, conservative union) can make workers’ control intelligible in a way that pamphlets and bulletins never will. That doesn’t mean that fighting from within the union will always be the best approach, but in many cases I think it probably will be the best approach available, and if you can’t get a decent rank and file thing going on within a workplace then that probably indicates a problem, which isn’t even really about the union at all.

Been thinking about this a lot the past week or so, how we do find that course in between just being faithful, uncritical footsoldiers for the union leaders who we know are going to call things off on the one side, and just being irrelevant WSWS-style naysayers giving out leaflets saying that everything is rubbish on the other.

 

[hitmouse]

Some reflection on what they've been up to and what next:

Riduzione comunista – Reflections on Angry Workers since 2019 and the need for a new focus - Angry Workers

These are largely individual thoughts written down after a national meeting during which we decided to stop the official ‘national’ activities, such as the reading group. The thoughts primarily suggest tasks of a communist group in the current moment and continue to argue for a refocus on...

www.angryworkers.org

 

[hitmouse]

AWW folk may have seen this already, but seems like there's a plan to form a workersinquiryist US group inspired by AWW:

PREVIEW: New Org, Who Dis – The Antifada – Podcast

Sean met with a whole bunch of listeners and patrons and friends on Discord and described his idea for a new organization. Another meeting coming up on Sunday, July 24th at 3pm EST so be sure to make... – Listen to PREVIEW: New Org, Who Dis by The Antifada instantly on your tablet, phone or...

podtail.com

Belated update to this, but the organisation that I think is partly inspired by AWW has now been launched:

https://ilclabor.com/

https://ilclabor.com/missionstatement/

May be of some interest to LDC and others?