What Is Class-Struggle Unionism?
We really, really need unions. But not all unionism is created equal. We need unions that are willing to fight the bosses rather than cozy up to them. We need class-struggle unionism.
10 Articles by: Joe Burns
Joe Burns is a veteran union negotiator and labor lawyer and the author of Strike Back and Reviving the Strike. His forthcoming book is Class Struggle Unionism, from Haymarket Books.
Joe Biden Will Not Save the Labor Movement
Talk of Joe Biden as a transformational president is getting ahead of itself. Historically, labor law reform has triggered some of the fiercest battles from business — and Joe Biden has shown no evidence he’ll go to the mat for the PRO Act, the most transformative piece of labor legislation in decades.
There Is No Strike Wave in the Private Sector
The teachers’ strikes of the past year and a half have been an inspiration. But we haven’t seen a revitalization of successful worker militancy where it’s desperately needed: in the private sector.
Don’t Take the Boss’s Bait
In the wake of Janus, it’s tempting for some trade unionists to give up on representing all workers in a given workplace. This is exactly what the boss wants.
No, Janus Is Not a Trojan Horse
Janus is an assault on unions, full stop. But worker militancy can overcome bad labor law.
“There Is No Illegal Strike, Just an Unsuccessful One”
The West Virginia teacher strike represents a return to public worker unionism’s radical roots.
What Labor Can Learn from Bernie
It’s time to reintegrate radical ideas into the labor movement.
Against the Law
For unions, the most important question isn’t who will replace Scalia. It’s how to knock down the barriers labor law imposes.
A Strike for Survival
Two thousand workers are now on strike at a Wisconsin plant. It’s the kind of fight labor must win if it has any chance at reviving.
Labor Law Won’t Save Us
The strike is still labor’s strongest weapon.