A short explanation of anarcho-syndicalism and notes on its history.
Anarcho-syndicalism, or anarchosyndicalism, is one of the major forms of social anarchism. The idea behind anarcho-syndicalism is to create an industrial workers' union movement based on anarchist ideas. They therefore advocate decentralised, federated unions that use direct action to get reforms under capitalism until they are strong enough to overthrow it.
The idea is that trade unions divide workers by trade, which can (and has) end up in scabbing. In America, industrial disputes would sometimes see violent clashes between workers of different unions who would ignore each other’s requests to respect picket lines. The aim of anarcho-syndicalism is to unite all workers into ‘One Big Union’ controlled by the members, from the grassroots. This is obviously in deep contrast to the current reformist unions who are filled with layer upon layer of bureaucrats who can call off industrial action regardless of the wishes of the membership. This kind of union democracy puts control of workers’ struggles where it belongs: with the workers themselves.
Anarcho-syndicalists also don’t limit themselves to seeing strikes as the only legitimate form of industrial action. Anarcho-syndicalist unions encourage occupations, sabotage, sit-ins and many other forms of direct action to win industrial disputes.
The aim of the anarcho-syndicalist union is not just to win improved conditions. It would also serve as "the elementary school of Socialism" (Rudolf Rocker, Anarchism and Anarcho-Syndicalism, see below). In this way, anarcho-syndicalist unions aim to ‘create the new world in the shell of the old’ and they take very seriously Bakunin’s remark that the workers’ organisations must create "not only the ideas but also the facts of the future" in the pre-revolutionary period. The organisation of the union would prepare workers for the direct democracy, self-activity and mutual aid needed if the future society is to succeed.
Spain 1936 - anarcho-syndicalist workers in the CNT construct armoured cars to fight the fascists in one of the collectivised factories
Anarcho-syndicalists, like all libertarian communists, "are convinced that a Socialist economic order cannot be created by the decrees and statutes of a government, but only by... the taking over of the management of all plants by the producers themselves" (ibid.). Political parties are not just unnecessary for social change, but actually hold it back. These parties (even those claiming to represent the workers) stifle working class self-activity by attempting to either negotiate with government or by trying to lead the working class to victory. Anarcho-syndicalists believe that workers should take direct action to get better conditions at work and gain social and political reforms (while always having revolution and workers’ control as their final goal). An example of this would be the Spanish CNT (National Confederation of Labour) striking for the release of political prisoners in the beginning of the 20th Century, and British construction workers doing the same in the 1970s. Other recent political strikes include general strikes against the second Iraq war in Italy, Spain and Germany.
However, it must be noted that anarcho-syndicalists do not just focus on workplace organising or just the organising of those in paid employment. Anarcho-syndicalists fully support and participate in many forms community organising, arguing for the building of residents’ associations and radical community groups to build working class power in the community using tactics such as rent strikes to gain improvements in conditions. Anarcho-syndicalists also believe in the organisation of the unemployed, housewives, students and other unwaged workers into the ‘One Big Union’.
Between 1905 and 1939, anarcho-syndicalism gained itself a very prominent position in the workers’ movements of France, Italy and Spain (the CNT playing a leading role in the Spanish Civil War and Revolution in 1936-39) as well as in the United States, and in Latin America where anarchism was the predominant force in the workers' movement in many countries.
Today, though not as powerful a force as it once was, it still plays a significant role in workers’ struggles in areas of Western Europe.
Key links
- www.anarchosyndicalism.net - Anarcho-syndicalist website, lots of good info on articles, history etc
- www.syndicalist.org - Website of the excellent US magazine, Anarcho-Syndicalist Review
- www.iww.org - Website of the Industrial Workers of the World. Loads of info on history and theory as well as news on IWW activities in the US
- www.iwa-ait.org - Website of the International Workers’ Association, anarcho-syndicalist international
- www.iww.org.uk - IWW group in the UK
