A movement of movements

Some of those who founded the Socialist Party in regard to trade unionism had a leaning towards industrial unionism, whilst others were inclined to view the trade unions unsympathetically as only another facet of capitalism. 

  The private and state ownership of the means whereby the people live produces in industry an unceasing conflict between the propertied parasite class and the property-less working class, a conflict manifesting itself in the form of strikes, work-to-rule go-slows and lock-outs. Workers in their endeavour to resist the encroachments of the exploiting class, and to secure higher wages, shorter hours, better conditions of labour, have largely organised themselves into Trade Unions. The capitalist class in its desire to wring more profits, rent, and interest out off the labour of the workers, has for years been organised into cabals, combines, and trusts with the object of controlling markets, raising prices, limiting production, reducing wages and intensifying labour.
 

The Socialist Party realising that this social conflict of hostile classes in society is preparing the way for the transformation of capitalist property into common ownership by limiting competition among the workers on the one hand and by combining and concentrating capital on the other, recommends its members to join the unions in their respective trades in order that by the spread of socialist enlightenment the members of the working class organised in trade unions may be enabled to carry out the class struggle with the efficiency which results alone from clearly defined class-conscious action and taught to translate the industrial conflict into the field of politics.

The Socialist Party urges upon the trade unionists and all other wage-workers to join the Socialist Party in order that they may proceed to the conquest of the powers of government as the indispensable preliminary to the overthrow and dispossession of the capitalist class and the establishment of a society in which the means and instruments for producing the necessaries, comforts and luxuries of life will be the common and democratically controlled property of the whole people.

The Socialist Party recognises that the working class must be organised both politically and economically for the safe-guarding of working class interests and the overthrow of capitalism, declares nevertheless the ultimate futility of any economic organisation not based on the principle of working-class solidarity and recognition of the class-struggle.

The Socialist Party seeing that the trade unions of this country are sectional in character and unconscious of the historic mission of the working-class, cannot give unreserved support to these organisations, which have been frequently manipulated to suit capitalist interests. Members of the Socialist Party are advised to form socialist groups inside their unions for the purpose of common counsel and joint action to counteract any abandonment of working-class interests and to educate their fellow members in the principles of the class-struggle.

The Socialist Party understands that the trade unions are essentially economic organisations and that when based upon and informed by correct principles they are capable of fulfilling their function as such. It demands from the Trade Unions a similar recognition that the political action of the working-class must be revolutionary, and the function of, and can only be taken by, the Socialist Party.

The political and economic organisations of the working-class should work together, in harmonious cooperation, and the Socialist Party desires, to this end, the affiliation of such unions as shall recognise the necessity for ending the wage-system and establishing the socialism.

Socialist Party, however, views the trade union movement as presently constituted as organised on an unsound basis. The Socialist Party declares that trade unionism is a necessary form of working-class organisation, but also declares that unless such unions are based upon the class-struggle they are insufficient and become ineffective.   The Socialist Party recommends that all members of the Party within trade unions be instructed to actively oppose all action of the unions that is not based on the principles of this Party. Therefore members of the Socialist Party, as trade unionists, must work for the conversion of their trade organisations to the sound economic position which alone fits the trade union to co-operate with the Socialist Party for the overthrow of capitalism.

Many are hungry for a change of direction. The strength and clarity of purpose needed in order to break free is going to require us to very thoughtful so as to knit our numerous diverse movements together. This doesn't mean a centralized hierarchy. Our society's allegiance and addiction to capitalism must be renounced and abandoned, if we want to see our way to a liveable future. The existing capitalist model of endless economic expansion and ceaseless capital accumulation is unsustainable. Clearly if we stubbornly persist down that path, collapse of the earth's life-sustaining ecosystems is inevitable. The signs are everywhere visible. Corporate interests are now in the driver's seat and they blithely ignore the facts, have utter contempt for truth, and couldn't care less for democracy, the environment or human rights.  We need to construct a new society. Capitalism is a failing economic philosophy which honours acquisition above sharing and cooperation. Capitalism is the antithesis of democracy. Capitalists do not cooperate they compete and seek to destroy competitors. Constant warfare is the history of capitalism.

We require the creation of a class-based political organization to raise the class consciousness of our fellow-workers. Unlike other sectors of the left, unions possess an infrastructure of buildings, meeting spaces, massive mailing lists and extensive administrative apparatuses. Participatory democracy is absolutely the best way to organize workers, because it is the only way that actually builds revolutionary consciousness, if, in fact, we do believe in the democratization of our labour unions.

The anarchist, Rudolf Rocker,  wrote  of unions serving as schools for the working class:

“… the trade union is by no means a mere transitory phenomenon bound up with the duration of capitalist society, it is the germ of the socialist society of the future, the elementary school of socialism in general. Every new social structure makes organs for itself in the body of the old organism. Without this preliminary any social evolution is unthinkable. Even revolutions can only develop and mature the germs which already exist and have made their way into the consciousness of men; they cannot themselves create these germs or create new worlds out of nothing. It therefore concerns us to plant these germs while there is still yet time and bring them to the strongest possible development, so as to make the task of the coming social revolution easier and to ensure its permanence.”

To be schools for socialism, unions must do more than simply mobilise. They must create structures that prepare workers for what are the ingredients of a socialist society.  It can serve as a big step towards preparing workers for control of their workplaces. The workers themselves must be collectively empowered.