NationStates Jolt Archive


One Big Union

Shingogogol
26-10-2005, 20:01
is a rallying cry and goal? for the IWW and anarcho-syndaclists. (Idustrial Workers of the World)

But why? Why is one big union better than a bunch of smaller ones.



I've thought a little about this.

Take for example a store like Wal-Mart (the super kinds with the grocery stores in them) and similar stores across the country.
My uncle works at such a store in the bakery department. He and the
other bakers belong to a bakers union with the other bakers from other
stores of the same name. (I do not know if this includes bakers from
stores with different names)
And people in different departments in the store belong to different unions.


In this case I think it would just make common sense that all the workers
at a given store be in the same union; maybe even all the workers in
all the stores of the same name.
I've actually been quite confused as to why the bakery had 6 people belonging to one union and others to others.
It just didn't make sense to me. This is long before I ever heard of IWW or
anarcho-syndaclism.

Is that what they mean by "one big union"?

Why do workers in a Wal-Mart all belonging to the same union (theoretically, it will come some day. unions are as american a apple pie, you greedy person sam walton) as all the workers in a button manufacturing plant?

I'm not saying they should be in different unions.
I'm just trying to see what is the big deal with this.

As stated before,
I think it's just common sense for all the people that
work at the Wal-Mart at 555 Main St, Mainville, USA belong to the same
"one big union".
Soheran
26-10-2005, 21:07
Well, in the specific case of the IWW and the anarcho-syndicalists, "One Big Union" is necessary for the "One Big Strike" that will overthrow capitalism.
Shingogogol
26-10-2005, 21:24
Well, in the specific case of the IWW and the anarcho-syndicalists, "One Big Union" is necessary for the "One Big Strike" that will overthrow capitalism.



So it is necessary for everybody to think the same or get along?
Don't get me wrong.
The 2nd is possible.
It's just most people think it is impossible because the interpret
that to mean, "they must agree with me".


I don't mean offense, but your post didn't really help that much.

I'm all for democratic control of the work place.
It's our planet as much as it is a "Bill Gates' " planet.
It's not more his than ours.
Why should he have more say or resources than 5 million people?