A teach-in on capitalism, profit motives, wage labour and more!
This may be especially useful for coffee shop workers as an introduction
into the context of our work. Many of us do not think about the connections
between our jobs and society as a whole. This workshop will directly link
the profit that accumulates because of our hard work and where it ends up.
There will be a breakdown of this entire process so we can better understand
the way our bosses use cheap labour and cheap business costs to make
themselves richer!
Here is a quote I found the other day, about service industry exploitation in
the book, "Work." Crimethinc. Ex-workers Collective released "Work" this year,
and introduce and outline many different relevant atrocities that we endure through
capitalism and especially as workers.
"A worker's personal quirks and secrets, previously the only territory beyond the reach of the market, become commodities to be sold like any other. In this regard, the service industry represents a front in the total colonization of our social lives."
SEEING THE STRINGS: A SERIES OF TEACH-INS ON THE OPPRESSIONS THAT HOLD CAPITALISM UP
FRIDAY, MARCH 23RD 7-9 PM
Entry by donation. No one turned away!
Vancouver Public Library
Central Library: Alma Vandusen and Peter Kaye Room
if you would like to contact these folks
seeingthestrings@gmail.com
seeingthestrings.wordpress.com
We will collectively confront specific grievances or problems that arise in our workplaces in Vancouver. Jobs like ours (gendered/low income/service industry labour) are the ones that allow these empires to exist and expand. We are currently running an industry wide call out to all sympathetic coffee shop workers. We work with "direct unionism" principles and IWW tactics.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Direct Unionism in Practice: Undermining Service Industry Barriers to Worker Solidarity
Excerpt from " Direct Unionism in Practice: Undermining Service Industry Barriers to Worker Solidarity"
"The follow up discussions on the “Direct Unionism” essay put out last year has provided us with a working definition of Direct Unionism and the basic elements of direct action in the workplace. These actions orchestrated by workers at their sites have a name: but now what? The previous responses while generally in favour of direct unionism, focus on contracts and memberships and leave out some of the most important elements in the essay in terms of potential actions and worker solidarity. We like what Tom Levy reinforces about “organizing the worker, not the job,” as it allows adaptation to the flexible, mobile, reality of service workers in general. It seems like the only feasible option in terms of speaking to the reality of these workers, which in most cases is substandard. The glove fits."
You can see the entire essay here Direct Unionism in Practice: Undermining Service Industry Barriers to Worker Solidarity
"The follow up discussions on the “Direct Unionism” essay put out last year has provided us with a working definition of Direct Unionism and the basic elements of direct action in the workplace. These actions orchestrated by workers at their sites have a name: but now what? The previous responses while generally in favour of direct unionism, focus on contracts and memberships and leave out some of the most important elements in the essay in terms of potential actions and worker solidarity. We like what Tom Levy reinforces about “organizing the worker, not the job,” as it allows adaptation to the flexible, mobile, reality of service workers in general. It seems like the only feasible option in terms of speaking to the reality of these workers, which in most cases is substandard. The glove fits."
You can see the entire essay here Direct Unionism in Practice: Undermining Service Industry Barriers to Worker Solidarity
Original Essay: Direct Unionism: A Discussion
the follow up essays: Debate on Direct Unionism
Monday, 30 January 2012
FIRST MEETING IN 2012
all coffee shop workers and others in the service industry
we are meeting at Joe's Cafe on Commercial Drive on Feb 12th at 5pm.
This is a meet up in order to network with other coffee shops and sites around the city.
We will be discussing our shared experiences and introducing direct unionism and reach out!
see you there! email us if you have any questions
we decide@ymail.com
we are meeting at Joe's Cafe on Commercial Drive on Feb 12th at 5pm.
This is a meet up in order to network with other coffee shops and sites around the city.
We will be discussing our shared experiences and introducing direct unionism and reach out!
see you there! email us if you have any questions
we decide@ymail.com
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