Part 1/4 21ST CENTURY UNION: ORGANIZING SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES ///by Carlos Murray, member IWW, co-editor Industrial Worker newspaper 1992-93. Free for electronic distribution only. Please do not print distribute without permission. copyright Dec.25, 1993 Carlos Murray ./// ------------------------------------------------------------------*** Contents: Part 1/4: 1. Taking Control in the 21st Century a. a vision for the future b. industry & unions in the 20th century c. towards a common goal 2. Evolution a. social awareness b. self interest c. diversity 3. Industry & Ecology a. planning for change b. the waste factor 4. The Union as Industry a. work knowledge b. taking responsibility c. industrial management Part 2/4: 5. Economic Life in Industrial Democracy a. private property b. natural resources c. capital d. class e. incentive & workers income f. value g. sharing the wealth h. price controls i. supply & demand j. profits k. collective buying & selling, barter l. non-essential products, innovation 6. Who are the Producers? a. Uncounted Labor b. Environmentalists c. Multiple jobs, flexibility & mobility d. hours of work e. Why Join the Union? f. job creation Parts 3/4 and 4/4: 7. Projections for Industry * * * *** The proposals made here are not official IWW proposals, but are the suggestions of one member. *** 1. TAKING CONTROL IN THE 21ST CENTURY a. a vision for the future The times and conditions of life are changing rapidly. Many people are activists for specific improvements in society -- but what are the common directions we can work in, that will actually produce the kind of society we want? And what kind of society do we actually want? Most people answer this question in the negative. We don't want pollution, we don't want people to be homeless, we don't want violence in our communities, and so on to list other negative features of 1990s society. But how will these things be changed? By the government? By getting rich people to meditate and love each other more? Do we need a new grassroots political party to take over and change everything? Should we just band together and overthrow the governments? Would that be the solution to our problems? Perhaps all these suggestions have their place. But the character of daily life is defined directly by economy. Economy is made up of industry, and industry is made up of work. The society we have today is created by all of us going out to work at our jobs each day. The way each and all of us get our income, and the way we spend our money, determines the shape of our lives. No government or party can change society, for it is we ourselves who make it what it is. Overthrowing all governments would not in itself solve the problems. Only individual persons like you, can change the way you work -- the way you get your income and spend it. That is the only way industry can be altered favorably, the only way the economy can be improved, and the only way the character of daily life will change for the better. Daily life does not just happen, it is produced -- at work. To change society, we must change the way we work. In the 1990s, industry is in a state of upheaval and re-structure. Now is the time and your job is the place to establish economic democracy -- Industrial Democracy. If you don't have a job, you can make one. If you don't like your job, you can improve it; or you can quit and make a better job for yourself. While industries owned by a few individuals or distant shareholders are moving farther away from the people, we can move to take over pieces of industry -- you can take over your piece. New industries are being created. Workers, too, can create new industries that benefit ourselves and our communities. It does not matter what you call an economic system. The point is its effect. The point is to establish and sustain general prosperity for all. No system of the past has ever succeeded. Only Industrial Democracy will create a sustainable prosperous social economy. The key to Industrial Democracy is for workers to own the means of production. In the 21st century, you will own your workplace -- you and your co- workers. If you work at a gas station you will be part owner of the pumps and driveway -- maybe just for one summer -- and will help set the prices. If you work at a school or daycare, you will be part owner of the building and equipment and books. You will help decide the way education is provided. If you work on a farm you will be part owner of the land and tools. If you have a boss or manager, s/he will be elected by you and your co-workers. As an owner-worker of industry -- one industry or another -- and a member of the Industrial Union, you will also help make large decisions affecting the entire industry that you work in. The Industrial Union joins together all the workers in a particular industry. An industry encompasses all the operations and occupations that go directly into the making of a particular product. Instead of the trade union model of a "Floor Sweepers Union," the floor sweepers at hospitals would be part of the Health Care Industrial Union, along with doctors and nurses. The floor sweepers at an automobile factory are part of the Auto Makers Industrial Union, along with machinists and welders. Your Industrial Union will set standards, promote improved work methods, and make decisions concerning the industry. The Industrial Union is the democratic forum and voice for all the workers in your industry. Democratic control of production by the workers is an advance in every way over control by a few, non-working individual or distant owners. Industrial Democracy will create general conditions of prosperity, employment opportunities, better quality products at lower prices, will remove health hazards from workplaces, provide for training, job security, and retirement, and will create a quality of life far superior to 20th century life. Industrial Democracy can only be put into effect by workers themselves, through worker unions organized to take full control and ownership of their workshops and businesses -- by any means possible -- and the industry as a whole. How can workers take control? What are the structures and operating methods of democratically run industry? How will Industrial Union ownership and control of industry result in prosperity and quality of life? How do we adapt our industries to the natural environment, and create sustainable economies for the future of our children? The 1990s are a transitional period in human affairs, with many industries changing, some disappearing, others being created. To plan for ownership of industry, we must plan for sustainable, responsible industries. Every working person must accept responsibility for his or her share of the actions of industry. 1-b. INDUSTRY & UNIONS IN THE 20TH CENTURY In economic terms, the essential problem of human social evolution has always been to produce and distribute products for survival and material advancement. The 20th century structure of industrial ownership has succeeded in making a large number of products widely available. Extensive social and economic infrastructures were also achieved in the industrialized countries. However, as more and more products are being distributed on a larger scale in the 1990s, other products and services formerly available locally -- often for free -- are becoming more expensive or disappearing. Example: You can now buy frozen fish from the North Sea, but you can no longer eat fish for free from your local polluted river. And such important infrastructures as roads and bridges, railways, health care and education are badly deteriorating in the 1990s as the owners of manufacturing industry pull out of formerly prosperous regions leaving unemployment and poverty. Two areas where infrastructure continues to advance are long distance freight transportation and communications, both of which expedite global trade. In the 20th century, many working people joined unions to defend and further their interests on the job. These unions have taken a variety of forms and engaged in various activities from Saturday night dances and summer schools, to strikes, boycotts, and job actions such as slowdowns -- tactics for putting pressure on industry owners to negotiate workers' demands. The biggest unions in the latter part of the 20th century were trade unions, consisting of workers in similar occupations, organized by plant locals or across skilled trades. By the 1960s, in most industrialized countries, unions had become entrenched in certain industries such as railways, dockyards, auto making, and government civil service. At the same time large sectors of labor remained unorganized, such as most farm workers and small business employees. Non-union workers earned lower wages and received fewer benefits with more injuries and deaths on the job than did union workers. Employers, who in the 20th century were organized for the sole purpose of earning large short term profits for a few non-working individual owners or distant shareholders, were the enemy of workers' unions and sought to weaken and destroy them, in order to reduce labor costs. The constant introduction of new labor saving machines throughout the 20th century was, and continues to be a significant factor to continually reduce the workforce while increasing production. The globalization of production and distribution (international trade free from national restrictions) taking place in the 1990s is also reducing the workforce in unionized nations, while making more jobs available in poor developing nations. Improvements made by unions are being drastically reversed. The traditional methods of trade unions are no longer able to protect workers or their jobs in the face of globalized production economies. Some unions are making new efforts to organize internationally, and some unions have already been accustomed to organize among a number of trades, in related or unrelated industries. These are steps in the right direction. Workers need to take democratic control of their trade unions, or form alternative unions to pursue industry-wide organization and ownership. In the 1890s, work had a very different meaning than it has in the 1990s. At the start of the 20th century, work was a means of livelihood and a source of identity and self respect. In the 1990s, many people do not have a job. Many people have a job for one or two years, then later another job for six months. Many people who have jobs, don't like their jobs -- either they are not getting paid enough, or they feel guilty about what their job is doing to the Earth and society and to their own health. Work, the basis of industry, has become very alien and unhuman in the 1990s. Many people do not like to think about work, or to think that work is where the problems of society are produced. It is more comfortable to think of the government being responsible. It is more convenient to think of the owners of industries being responsible. But the government does not produce the clouds of sulphur dioxide in our air, or sexist advertizements; the owners of industry do not make the noisy trucks or build the square boxes we live in, or place toxins in our food. In our angst, we as individuals may feel disconnected from our work -- but there is a very direct connection between our work and the conditions of life. 1-d. TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL In the 1990s we need a common vision of where we're heading, so we can all work together -- each in our own way -- towards a unified goal. Governments and owners of industries are not concerned about the future. They have no unifying plan, no common goal, and no plans to provide prosperity. There are some people who want to end "production for profit," and replace it with "production for human needs." But how will this production happen? The re-structure of ownership and decision making powers in industry has to proceed step by step, starting where industry is now. The Industrial Union program of the IWW is an effective and practical plan to establish economic democracy. It is not capitalism, and it is not communism. Industrial Democracy means that the people who invest their work into production, are the same people who own the means of production -- the machines, tools, buildings and assets of their workplace, as well as their profits. There are forces that result in industrial activity. To gain control of the means of production, we have to take a clear, unbiased look at the existing reality of production, economics and work life. In this we leave behind the labels of capitalism, socialism/communism, and class. The labels are generalizations of abstracted elements of reality, and do not encompass the full realm of economic life. Such labels accurately describe elements, but are not comprehensive or subjective enough for the purpose of establishing Industrial Democracy among the population at work. The industrial and economic operating methods people choose are based on a full range of practical forces -- not on abstract considerations. Industry -- the substance of economy -- is work activity carried out by diverse humans in diverse conditions, and it must be accepted on its own terms. The question is, what will be the character of industry, having established control and ownership by workers? What will it be like to live and work in industrial democratic society? What products will be available, how will distribution and trade occur, will there still be microwave popcorn on the shelf? The answers to these questions will provide us with a clearer picture of just what it is we hope to achieve. By identifying specific points about it, we can build up a real plan for the future of industry -- a future for all our children. Some would have a better, more honest government, or a socialist state to issue decrees. But Industrial Democracy is economy that runs itself -- from the ground up. When it comes to it, it will be small groups of worker-owners in every industry and every place who will say, "We need petrol," or "We can get along without petrol." If they need it they will try to get it, and someone will find a way to sell it to them, regardless of any economic rules imposed from above. It is the workers presently engaged in industrial production, who can point out the promising and the negative features of their specific industry. From this, we can forecast a model for a sustainable future. Through the Industrial Union, practical plans can be made and steps taken to implement worker ownership and management in the specific conditions of each workplace and industry. By identifying directions for industrial adjustments, we can put together a unified plan of attack, which will unite our efforts to address environmental and social change. Having decided as a Union goal to stop clearcutting, we can take a number of actions toward the goal -- including the encouragement of selective logging, hemp farming and substitute building materials. This identification also points up areas where industrial change is most urgently needed for the benefit of society as a whole, and where opportunities exist for Union building. It can help us frame a picture of daily life in the sustainable society of the future. Adjusting our lives for quality -- as contrasted to "standard of living" -- also solves economic, social and environmental problems. 2. EVOLUTION 2-a. social awareness An evolutionary step is occurring in the Earth, in the decades just before and after the year 2000. This progression affects every aspect of human existence: personal, social, spiritual, material and scientific. The major factor in human evolution that will affect industrial economy is: recognition of inter-connectedness -- what might be called, brother-sisterhood, or "We're all in the same boat." This helps to foster the idea of fairness. It causes people to join together in groups of common interest. It also entails individual responsibility to the group; each person is expected to clean up his own mess; standards of social behavior are enforced through a process of interaction within groups. Interconnectedness has added a new factor to social awareness: natural environment. Natural resources and wildlife can no longer be used, wasted or damaged indiscriminately because it is known that this has definite harmful effects on the life support system as a whole. We have learned that everything is connected. This new awareness is part of the evolutionary process -- when we apply what we know in practical structures and methods. Evolution is ruthless. We will not slide effortlessly into a future of peace and prosperity. Each step has to be taken. Even as new formations occur which bear the seeds of future liberation, the decaying and breaking up of old formations is causing grief around the planet. Scarcity and poverty, repression, toxicity, disease, disempowerment and social isolation are enforced by the old system of industrial ownership. Every person has a choice, to align with the old decaying formations, or with the new structure of a brighter, self made future; or to sit by and be a helpless victim of the crunch. The lesson of evolution is: it really is we, ourselves, who decide the conditions of our lives. You can believe it now, or learn it later. 2-b. SELF INTEREST Self interest is part of industry. It causes people to get jobs, start up a business, seek a promotion or higher wages. At the same time, many people do take actions based on altruistic or compassionate motives, such as charity work, Little League Baseball, religions, environmental work, or various forms of education and mutual aid. Self interest is not the only factor in industry, but it is one of the primary factors. Evolution may cause people of the 21st century to realize that -- since we're all in the same boat -- in the long run, self interest is best served by satisfying the needs of all. Not a new discovery, but in the 20th century the facts could be ignored -- there was always room to expand. In the 20th century, a few owners of a factory polluted a neighborhood or paid low wages, in order to maximize personal profits at the expense of the many. When community health care taxes got too high, and it became harder to find healthy employees, the owners could go somewhere else. In the 21st century it will become more obvious that the owners of factories also suffer from pollution -- they have to live somewhere, and everything is connected. Also more obvious, that when some people are not getting enough income for their needs, the entire community suffers from the loss of human creative and productive potential. Thus, from a strictly self-interest, common sense point of view, it will be realized that keeping everyone prosperous and happy is the best way to be prosperous and happy oneself. Of course, not every individual will automatically recognize the obvious. But the general trend of social awareness will create pressures towards social responsibility. Greedy bosses will not be automatically filled with love for their fellow beings, but they will be increasingly isolated. Evolution is not automatic, but its pressures are relentless. Another effect of social awareness is the tendency to identify with a group. People join those with whom they have affinity and common interest. Among these affinity groupings are the Industrial and workplace Unions. In the 21st century, ownership and control of industry -- the means of production -- will be more and more a group activity, and less concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. 2- c. DIVERSITY The future will not be a world of super convenience and great scientific feats at every hand. The future will not be a return to primitive existence. The future can only be a combination of both extremes, filled in by every degree in between. A major catastrophe wiping out 85% of human life could return global human society to a primitive level -- that is possible. But it is not possible for the entire world to become highly technologized, cutting off our industrial roots in what is called primitive craft. As a pyramid is built, the lower building blocks must remain in place, or else the peak of accomplishment will fall. In 21st century Industrial Democracy, every industry will consist of a number of different processes, from the primitive to the most technologically advanced. This work, occuring in many locations, is joined by the Industrial Union organization of the workers. Production of soap in the future Industrial Democracy may be done by different methods, using different ingredients, among the various Soap-Makers Industrial Union local shops. This will lead to a variety of different soap being available in different places. The federated Soap-Maker Industrial Unions, regional, national, or global, will devise methods of relating to each other, as practical -- for example, developing standards across the industry for non- allergenic shampoo. There will not necessarily be universal distribution of particular products. "Tide" laundry detergent will not necessarily be available in supermarkets throughout the whole world. Such global distribution in the late 20th century has been the result of monopolies, for the purpose of profiting the few owners of companies. It does not necessarily benefit the people of the world -- and certainly not the Soap Workers -- to consume identical products everywhere. Interconnections between diverse elements leads to solutions. Science and industry in the 21st century will be applied to the solution of problems, through inter-connecting the knowledge of various branches. Medicine consists of scientific knowledge applied through health care industries. In the 21st century there will be a merging of different branches of medical science and branches of health care industry. Instead of the 20th century medical model of "disease curing," there will be a movement towards wholistic, preventive health maintenance -- removing the cause of diseases. This example shows how merging scientific and industrial knowledge and know-how, will benefit human society. The Industrial Union of Health Care Workers provides the perfect vehicle for bringing together all the different branches of related knowledge and skills. In a similar merging process, knowledge, skills, technology, and capital will be inter-connected to solve basic problems such as hunger, homelessness, and illiteracy. The Industrial Unions of farmers, house builders, and educators will conspire with their communities to bring about these solutions. Industrial evolution is the merger of labor with the accumulated wealth -- capital -- produced by labor. That happens when workers become owners. 2.d. GLOBALISM Organization on industrial terms ignores national borders and reaches over oceans. We are workers engaged in producing goods or services, and we have interests in common with all workers everywhere who are producing the same product. Manufacturers of farm tractors in Michigan share with similar workers in Russia, direct economic benefit by sharing information and resources. Workers' organizations in the 20th century have dragged their feet and allowed capital interests to pave the way for global industrial cooperation. Already in the 1990s, tractor makers in Russia and Michigan can order fan belts from factories in Mexico. By combining as an Industrial Union, Russian and Michigan tractor makers can combine their orders for fan belts, saving money and making their spare parts interchangeable. Uniting with our fellow workers in every country benefits everybody. Farmers in America can learn new, low-tech methods from farmers in Africa and Nicaragua, while Ukraine farmers are exchanging knowledge with Canadian farmers. Restaurant workers in Mexico City may wish to know about methods of chefs in New Delhi. Computer software workers in China will want to integrate their work with Bolivian programmers. Physiotherapists in Amsterdam want to learn from Chilean athletic associations. 3. INDUSTRY & ECOLOGY a. planning for change The ecology crisis of the late 20th century is not a technical problem inherent to industrialized production. It is an economic problem inherent to the dictatorship of capital. Natural economic forces are distorted by diverting excessive profits at the expense of long term sustainability. When workers own and control their industry, they will insure their own future job security through viable long term industrial methods; and will be amenable to community demands. Industrial processes -- the sources of our livelihood and income -- are the direct cause of all ecological destruction, which in turn undermines our livelihood and quality of life. Now that we are aware of this fact, specific plans must be made by workers in each industry, and immediate steps taken to balance industry and ecology. Workers who want to take responsibility for industry, must plan for environmentally friendly industry. Organizations may wish to adopt all or part of the following short list of urgent steps. Resolved: Recognizing these most urgently needed industrial changes, to reduce the harmful environmental effects of industry, we call on all Unions and all people to unite with us in taking every possible action to make these changes: 1. Stop the over-harvest of trees, fish and other endangered life forms; help those workers start new industries or find new jobs. a) immediate ban on clearcuts for timber or wood pulp b) encourage selective timber logging and forest industry diversification c) encourage worker and community ownership of forests and forest industry d) encourage planting of trees along ALL waterways, and everywhere possible e) encourage re-use/recycling of wood, encourage substitute materials for building construction f) ban on use of wood pulp for paper by the year 2000, to be replaced with agriculturally produced rice, cotton and hemp pulp g) Environmentalists combined with Fishery Worker unions should make and enforce international agreements on ocean species catch limits and marine harvesting methods h) encourage start up of worker owned fishery and aquaculture industries i) immediate ban on all herbicides 2. Build new energy industries; discourage the use of petroleum fuel. a) encourage start up of worker owned solar, wind, biogas & small scale hydro electric generation 3. Build new transport industries, including mass rail, electric cars and bicycles. a) encourage worker and community owned rail transportation start ups b) encourage research into non-toxic electric cars c) encourage worker owned bicycle manufacture, distribution, maintenance; encourage bicycle lanes and paths d) discourage new road construction, instead demanding rails 4. Stop all industrial production of waste, specifically weapons, unnecessary packaging, throw-away items, socially destructive media, and toxic industrial waste byproducts. a) encourage direct action by workers to refuse to produce these items, or actions on the job to degrade the quality or speed of production b) boycotts and other actions to discourage excess packaging c) actions to protest junk mail d) boycott single-use disposable items e) oppose violent movies and television f) zero tolerance for toxic industrial waste dumping These imperatives being recognized as urgent by this organization, we declare that no member of this organization shall be employed in the clearcutting of forests, or distribution or use of herbicides, or in the making of waste products including socially destructive violent media entertainment, or in the dumping of known toxic wastes; for to do so is to SCAB on the future of our children. Resolved that this organization will defend the rights of any worker who refuses to do these things when ordered by an employer; and will expel any member who knowingly SCABS on our future. (end of resolution). Industrial Unions adopting such strong and clear positions will instantly ally themselves with the environmental movement. They will improve that movement by pointing out the specific industrial processes that lead to the worst problems, and pointing out the specific substitutes and alternatives. 3-b. The Waste Factor At least 40% of all industrial work that gets done in the 1990s, produces explicit garbage. This includes non-functional packaging, disposable items made to be used once and thrown away, poorly made goods, useless paperwork, and products of no use such as weapons. The "waste disposal problem" is not a by-product of industry; it is a directly manufactured product of these several industries. Workers employed at making garbage must either convert their workplace to a useful product, or abandon it. If the decision is to abandon, then the workers should try and get the highest wages and benefits possible in the interim, while doing as little work as possible. Industrial Union organization can help workers get ready for new jobs, or for conversion. Nearly all major corporations in the 20th century got to be major by building weapons that were never used. Banks, politicians, arms dealers, military brass, corporate executives and shareholders all profited from this production; even wage workers benefitted from these jobs. But for the society as a whole, this was a waste of resources and labor which could have been applied to improving food, housing, education or a thousand other things. Many weapons and component factories could easily be converted by workers to make useful objects, such as solar powered passenger trains or bio- degradable condoms. Then both the workers and the machinery will be valuable assets to society, instead of a drag. Waste industries can be converted to useful production; but there is a limit to how many objects and devices the world needs. If industrial materials are used wisely by the workers, products will last a long time -- reducing the need for replacements. We can safely state that global industrial activity will be reduced by at least 40%, simply by stopping the production of waste, including poorly made goods. This reduced production will of itself, immediately benefit ecology, eliminate landfill problems and reduce toxics -- without reducing the standard of living at all. It proves that the ecology crisis is not caused by over-population, but by forced over-consumption under the industrial dictatorship of capital. All Industrial Unions must adopt the standard: zero waste in all industrial processes. Every single thing and substance can be recycled or composted. But here is where the economic forces collide: when waste becomes profitable. What happens when the workers own their restaurants, one restaurant begins serving hamburgers in styrofoam boxes, and suddenly they get more business? There is a natural tendency for all the other restaurants to start using the boxes too, to "satisfy the demand." The same tendency occurs when a worker owned movie producer makes violent, socially destructive movies, and sells a million. A spiral of waste is created as others imitate it. There is no guarantee against this effect. No state government or central planning committee can be set up that will enforce a "no-waste" rule, and the rule itself cannot be accurately drawn. Only the Industrial Unions of workers can enforce standards within their workplaces and communities. Industrial Democracy provides more hope than any other system that can be devised. That styrofoam box has to go somewhere -- perhaps to the local "waste management" or Recycling Workers Industrial Union. Receiving the discarded styrofoam boxes in their daily rounds, these workers will then go before the community council and say, "We have no authority or means to dispose of this." Then the community council would have a problem. It might happen -- as in the 20th century -- that the restaurant owner/workers would go to the community council and say, "Our customers need the styrofoam boxes," and slip each councillor a free hamburger so they win the issue. But who will take the styrofoam boxes? "Not us," say the Forest Workers allied Industrial Unions. "Not in this field," say the Herb Harvesters and the Wildlife Habitat Environmental Workers. In surveying industrial production of waste for profit in the 20th century, we must not overlook social violence. Violent social behavior is often a directly manufactured product of television, movies, books, advertising, news media, and interest groups who promote sexism, racism, violence and fear, for profit. This promotion of violence has enormous social economic costs of health care, damaged property, and the costs of police and security measures. The long-cherished "freedom of speech," anti-censorship reached its limit when it became known that truth is relative and subjective. Visual electronic media affect human unconscious impulses. What you see is what you get. These simple facts cannot be ignored, and society cannot allow random destruction of psychological health any more than it can allow wild bulls loose in the market. Yes it's true you get into a situation where the controller of censorship is able to suppress legitimate ideas he doesn't agree with. But no controller can ever stop the production of violent pornography, and no law can be written to draw the line exactly. The larger Industrial Unions must ultimately set and enforce basic standards, while at the local level it is a matter of democratic interaction in the community to suit the particular circumstances. The Industrial Unions are the only vehicle by which these media industries can be forced to stop producing socially harmful violence as their products. 4. THE UNION AS INDUSTRY a. WORK KNOWLEDGE Work is the most valuable product of civilization. There is a large difference between academic knowledge, and the practice and knowledge of actual work. To know how to work -- with your body and mind, how to carry out the progression of tasks that make your product. To have gone out and done it enough times to learn as second nature, the many specific details that make the difference between a superior product or a flawed one. That is the most important kind of knowledge that exists, the most important product of social history: the ability of the people to create and sustain wealth for themselves. When work knowledge is lost, the result is poverty and loss of self-respect. For thousands of years, our mothers and fathers worked to make things -- food, shelter, implements, tools. All over the earth, human societies developed work-based cultures. From earliest forest & plain dwellers, through agricultural, bronze and iron ages, up to the recent combustion-engine era, and so to the electronic age. Everywhere men and women learned to hunt, farm, weave, print books, cook, weld, pull wagons, and build bridges. It is a great achievement to send humans to the Moon. But human society thrives, not just on the pinnacle but from the thousands of kinds of work that combine to make the pinnacle of space flight possible. Someone has to keep on milling wheat, grafting fruit trees, curing the sick and driving taxis; we can not all go to the Moon, simply because it has become possible -- because then the industrial base is undermined which made it possible. In the same way, simply because cars and frozen packaged dinners exist, it does not follow that every person should use them every day -- yet that is what modern economic planners tell us we must do. It is direct knowledge by men and women of how to work and produce things, which is being withdrawn from the people, as a result of the concentration of industry ownership in the hands of fewer and fewer non- working owners. In the 1990s the process is completed by the expansion to global production. It is not that global trade is bad, but the means being used to accomplish this feat is corporate monopolization, where fewer and fewer companies, and fewer owners, take over control of more production. While we all wear cheap sweaters made in Indonesia, women and men in Britain and New Zealand have forgotten how to make sweaters. While we eat white bread from Nebraska, people in Tennessee and Moldavia have forgotten how to grow wheat. Worse, the Indonesians also forget how to weave sweaters, because their domestic work culture cannot duplicate the high technology machines assembled from abroad by the few foreign owners. The women and men of Indonesia become wage laborers for the foreign company, and lose their native low-technology method of weaving. The Nebraska farmers' wheat production is also based on high technology and non-reproduceable seeds. One may argue that high-tech, cheap labor sweaters, along with global trade, benefits people in all places by making sweaters available at low prices. One may argue that the high yield methods of Nebraska mechanized chemical farming, along with global trade, "frees" the people in Egypt and Bolivia from the need to produce their own wheat, allowing them to specialize in something else. But the high-tech high-yield global monopoly trade system makes everyone dependent on somebody else for everything. Somebody -- but who? Should the system break down in one part, people somewhere will be in immediate crisis, unable to produce the missing product -- unable to get it anywhere else -- for their own needs. Should the larger system break down -- and it has many weaknesses -- then the entire world is wiped out, people in every region unable to produce a single thing they need to survive. The knowledge of how to make things has been sucked out of every culture and community by the few non-workers who own the means of production, who take that knowledge and machinery somewhere else and divide its application among distant groups of temporary wage workers. To reclaim work knowledge in our communities, ownership and management of industries must be taken over by the workers themselves. Quite simply, your community is out on a limb when it depends more and more on goods and services brought from far away by companies owned by a few distant individuals whose only motivation is to make a large short term profit. The decision on whether or not your family eats is being made somewhere else. Is this total dependence on a top-heavy economy the best we can do for our children? Or should we try to leave them aware of and in control of the industries and economy that sustain human life? We can do it now by establishing worker ownership and self management of our own local industries, united in Industrial Unions that link all the workers of the world by industry. 4-b. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY Industry is human activity to produce things needed by people. In North America, it was the IWW in 1905 who pointed out that the production of social wealth is a collective and cumulative accomplishment of all the working people; therefore, all wealth should go to those who produce it. In order to reclaim this wealth, the workers had to take responsibility for the control of production -- take responsibility and control away from non-working individual or distant owners, whom the IWW labelled the "employing class" -- by organizing democratic, industry-wide Unions. The role and function of Industrial labor Unions is inseparable from the role of industries. In planning Union structures and activities for the 21st century, we must begin by planning for industry. Democratic Industrial Union control by workers at the point of production - - a control balanced by surrounding Industrial Unions and community councils - - will result in a society of ABUNDANCE and fair and equitable distribution, when the workers themselves OWN the means of production, operate in their own SELF INTEREST (for profit), and trade by BUYING AND SELLING on an OPEN MARKET. The problem of priorities -- allocating resources in short supply -- will be solved, not by top-down decree, but by cooperation among Industrial Union groups and communities. Cooperation will be in everyone's best self interest. Thus the essential factor is getting ownership and control of the means of production into the hands of the actual workers, and away from one or a few individual non-worker owners. Taking the steps to worker ownership is much simpler than trying to come up with a design for a socialist state or central scientific management plan. It does not require a general strike of the masses; it does not require people to adopt a class analysis. What it does require is that workers use every means to take over ownership and management of their work place and industry. A variety of avenues lead to worker ownership. There are the set-up of new worker cooperatives, Employee Stock ownership, and union buy-outs of facilities. Also included, are workers who can seize their workplace and lock out the boss/former owners -- if they can get away with it. This is, in essence, a form of (leveraged) buy-out. When it comes to competition, the "capitalist" business world is well known for using any means, legal or otherwise, to get what it wants. Every owner of major capital has broken some laws, and usually some lives, to get it. But this "immoral" behavior is not a quality unique to the owners of capital. It derives, rather, from work itself. When you set out to do a job of work, you use whatever means you can -- you use the easiest, most efficient means available. If you are the owner of a business and set out to accomplish an objective -- making a profit -- you use whatever means is available. It is the work principle in operation, often called the "impersonal" forces of capital. The principle is inherent in industry. The only difference is that, when you are doing a job and look for ways to make that job easier and cheaper to do, you will not adopt any method that injures yourself. Owners of capital have no reason to care if workers, their environments and communities get injured in the process of making a profit. It doesn't matter how you re-organize your social economy, when people have an incentive to get a job done they will use whatever means presents itself. There is no use imagining that Industrial Unions of workers as owners of industry will be inherently "moral." It is the balance of industrial relations among the Industrial Unions, as well as the influence of residential communities, which will maintain justice among them, and keep them from stealing each other blind. There is certainly nothing "immoral" about people seizing the mining equipment with which they take the ores from the earth where they live. What about truckers, should they not own the trucks they drive and practically live in? The few individual and distant owners would not be able to stop such workers from seizing their equipment; however in our present circumstance the police might become involved. It is simply a question of logistics, and if a situation occurs where the takeover can be accomplished peacefully, it should be done as the quickest way to establish industrial democracy in that particular case. Such methods are right up the alley of "laissez faire capitalists" -- they call it competitive survival of the fittest. It is not a thing of the past -- in the 1990s, Guatemalan soft drink competitors steal each other's supplies. In North America, logging companies violate court injunctions to steal trees off Native or public land. European companies spy on each other to steal secrets. In Eastern Europe competitors sometimes use bombs. Such routine methods of capital driven business, are called "direct action" when applied by people who work for a living. But many workers will find it more practical to buy out or start up new enterprises. 4-c. INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT No plant manager has ever been able to grasp the complex forces involved in working on the shop floor to get a product made. No political state or central coordinating committee will ever be able to grasp the complex factors of industrial management for social prosperity. Industry is not a thing to be managed, as some envision. It is possible to shift boxcar A onto track B so it goes to town C -- but such a management system automatically undermines itself because at the point of production, there is no incentive to produce. Whenever you take control of work and control of the product out of the workers' hands, they no longer care about the job. A manager can tell the workers that the state will benefit them, or the laissez-faire will trickle down, but workers know neither boss is in touch with the reality of work. Nobody controls industry. Industry is subjective human creative activity -- which in Industrial Democracy is free, up to the point where it interferes with somebody else. Industry is not a thing, it is a verb -- an action taken. Bootlegging, for example -- how is a government going to stop people making and selling alcoholic beverage? Never. But the people of a community, a city block, could easily prohibit such activity, on the scene -- if they wanted to. Government regulation can never stop industrial plants from dumping pollution, as long as it is profitable to dump. But the plant workers can easily stop the dumping -- if they have an incentive. Neither can profit-taking be prohibited by any form of regime. A product has greater value according to the demand for it, and there is no way to get around this effect. If apples are in short supply, there is no way to keep the price from going up. There is no way to prevent people from selling or buying -- except some sort of police state where you count every apple on every tree -- and then, if you want to buy apples the police will sell them to you. Industry is subjective human activity driven by the self interest of individuals and groups -- it cannot be objectively managed. The owner of capital, who uses this accumulated wealth to set up a factory for profits, is like a man who rides on a horse; the factory is the horse -- managed industrial activity -- that carries the owner to the bank. This is objective management. The trouble is that factory workers are humans, not horses. And human workers -- like some horses -- have a mind of their own. When factory workers get tired of carrying the excess baggage of the owner's purse, they may throw their rider into the bushes and manage the profits for themselves. Industrial Democracy has no central, controlling authority to decree the extent of industries, their methods or goals. There will not be a central planning committee for industry or for all industries considered together -- sometimes advocated as "scientific management." Instead, the production of goods and services will be controlled at the local, workplace level, by democratic participation of the workers. These locals will federate in the Industrial Unions, to exert democratic control throughout the entire industry as practical. Decisions of the local, and the larger federated Industrial Unions, will be affected by community relations. If an Industrial Union plant decides to go ahead and pollute the river, they will have to answer to the people who live by the river. Industrial Union control of its industry will also be affected by relations with other industries. If the global federated Steel Workers Industrial Union decides to ration its product, giving priority to medical equipment and bicycle parts -- then the makers of locomotive springs would simply have to search for alternative metals. But if Steel Workers at a local mill charged higher prices to Locomotive Spring Makers, while selling at a lower price to everyone else, then perhaps the Rail Workers Industrial Union -- who own their locomotives -- would divert a boxcar of steel to the Spring factory. The interdependent relationships of industries and communities acts as a balance to the power of any one group. All industrial activities will be subject to influence by the surrounding community and other industries. Councils of Industrial Unions, and councils of community residents will be the basic avenues for discussion and mediation within the community and its industrial operations. The Industrial Union formed of federated workplaces, will develop into an industry-wide voice and decision making body. In different industries, there will be greater or lesser conformity of methods. The Industrial Union of Health Care Workers for example, might agree to ban certain drugs around the globe. But the Industrial Union of Dancers may not find one issue on which universal agreement is possible, or needed. Part 2/4 21ST CENTURY UNION: ORGANIZING SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES ///by Carlos Murray, member IWW, co-editor Industrial Worker newspaper 1992-93. Free for electronic distribution only. Please do not print distribute without permission. Copyright Dec.25, 1993, Carlos Murray /// ---------------------------------------------------------------------*** 5. ECONOMIC LIFE IN INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY a. Property Industrial Democracy requires that workers control their means of production as well as their product. They can do this only if it belongs to them. The local group of workers must quite simply, own the means of production and the product and hold it as private property. It is theirs to do with as they please. Ownership of industrial property may be shared with communities, or with other branches of the Industrial Union. If this is the case, the actual workers must retain final control of the property in decisions affecting their work. As long as the workers own their workplaces, tools, and the products they make -- and decisions are made democratically, the workers will receive all the benefits of their labor; while society benefits from a natural undistorted economy. But what happens when the group of workers decides to quit? What happens to the industrial assets? There is no way, outside of government-type regulation, to prevent the accumulation of wealth in some degree. This wealth is exchangeable -- if in cash it can be traded for goods or services; if in goods, it can be traded for cash, services, or other goods. There is no way to prevent wealth being exchanged. Yet, in order to preserve Industrial Democracy, we must prevent the tools and workplaces from being owned by people who do not work. With ownership comes control. Ownership by Labor allows democratic control, but there is nothing democratic about capital. After taking control of their industries, working people must keep that control. Just as the 20th century Union defended its organized shops, so the Industrial Union must defend ownership of the means of production within its industry. All Industrial Unionized worker-owned shops must guarantee as a condition of membership in the Industrial Union, that on retirement or on abandoning the shop for any reason, its property will only be sold or transferred within the Industrial Union. A shop can be sold or traded to another group of workers in the Industrial Union; or sold or traded to the Industrial Union itself. This clause in the Industrial Union contract with worker-owner-members will keep industrial property from falling into the hands of capitalists. Once industrial equipment or real estate passes into the hands of Industrial Union workers, the workers must promise never to sell it to a capitalist person or group who has money but are not themselves Industrial Workers. In this way the Industrial Union will gradually extend control over its industry. 5- b. NATURAL RESOURCES Forests, soils, waters, minerals in the ground -- must be taken over by the Industrial Unions of workers who utilize and depend on the resources. Specific cases vary. The "owners" of a forest might be the Unions of ten different harvest industries. Land containing mineral deposits might be owned exclusively by the Mine Workers Industrial Union. A community may also be owner or part owner of forest, farmland, waters or minerals. Remember that communities include the workers, too. In case of community ownership, the community will decide about industrial development of the resource. It may decide to allow, or not allow, Selective Logging; but once it decides to allow selective logging, the Timber Workers own the trees selected for harvest. 4-c. CAPITAL A dictionary defines "Capital" as: "accumulated wealth used or usable for producing more." When work is done, wealth accumulates and you have capital. With Industrial Democracy, the working people will own their accumulated wealth and use it to buy equipment, supplies, to build new workshops -- or as a retirement fund. "Capitalism: the organization of production by capitalists for their own profit." It appears that, according to this definition, the workers must become capitalists, in order to own the wealth they produce. Capital -- accumulated wealth -- is an economic force that must be taken into account. It does not matter what a system is called -- the point is its effect on people and society. In the 1990s, industry in most of the world is owned by "persons who use or possess capital." This may be a billionaire with lots of cash like Conrad Black, who as an individual owns several newspapers and other large industrial operations. It may be a large corporation owned by a dozen or a hundred investors (shareholders); or it may be your next-door neighbor who has taken a $10,000 bank loan as capital to set up a restaurant. Billionaires and corporate shareholders do not invest any labor, only capital. Your neighborhood business person may invest both labor and capital. The corporation exists in order to bring together large amounts of capital, which is used to buy the means of production including labor. In Industrial Democracy, the working people own their labor and do not sell it -- and they also own the wealth accumulated from profits and overproduction, or: capital. There is a set of ideas called "communism" or Marxism which is supposed to give the whole population possession of all the means of production. The people would own the whole thing together. In the 20th century, such systems did improve the standard of living for poor workers and peasants in several countries. However, communist systems were plagued by lack of production incentive on the part of workers, and by an upper class of state officials. There are people who would say that these systems were not "true" communism, and they are probably right. Could it be that both labels: "capitalism" and "communism" fail to take into account some of the real forces of industrial economy? Industrial Democracy is not capitalism, and it is not communism. In a sense, it combines the best of both -- but forget the labels. Industrial Democracy is working people owning their workplaces -- and their accumulated wealth -- united in democratic Industrial Unions to control their own industries, in cooperation with their communities. In the new society of Industrial Democracy, individual workers may also accumulate wealth -- as savings, or a pile of gold nuggets panned from the creek. So too, the community of people, working and owning their various industries, will accumulate wealth as a community treasury. This capital wealth accumulated by individuals and communities will be invested into industries in some fashion. For example, the community may purchase the services of Education Workers; or it may assist in setting up a new machine shop that will provide employment and services to the community. Communities -- or individuals -- may invest their accumulated wealth in local industries/Industrial Unions. A community might provide money to a local farm co-op, on condition of receiving part of the cucumbers. Or they might provide capital to set up a bakery or tap dancing school or railway. But only the workers can own their workplace, their production and their capital -- worker ownership is the key to Industrial Democracy. Communities or individuals may donate money to help set up worker-owned industries, in order to provide local employment, utilize local resources, and produce things for the community. Their investment is returned indirectly, through benefits to the community. Industrial Unions may also simply borrow money from these sources, and pay it back. Ideally there will be no interest paid on borrowed capital, because this practice has a distorting effect on value. However, the only economic (as opposed to legislative) way to stifle the practice of charging and paying interest, is to not allow credit to be used as capital at all, and confine lending for capital purposes to hard cash or actual goods. The only way to do this, in turn, is to make it impossible to guarantee credit. In the 20th century, banks -- holders of accumulated wealth, the most powerful corporations in the world -- loaned money they did not have, and the government insured the money to make it "real." Of course it was not real, and the government itself was vastly in debt to the bank, while that bank was in debt to other banks and depositors. This creation of unreal capital distorts natural economic forces. Although each country places limits on its banks, when banks operate internationally they make their own rules. Thus a bank in Hong Kong can lend $US20 million to a German bank, which then lends it to a multinational corporation that uses it to pay off loans to banks in Venezuela and Honduras. The Venezuelan bank may use part of the same money to pay a debt to the Hong Kong bank, while the Honduran bank may pay back a loan to the German Bank. In all this daisy chain of IOU's not a single penny has to change hands -- which is a good thing, since not one penny of the original $20 million ever existed in the first place. Multiply this little example by ten thousand, and you get an idea of the amount of bogus capital in the world: bogus capital that is used to buy the labor of workers and sell it back to them. The same thing happens when a corporation seeks capital to buy industrial equipment or labor. Upper-income individuals go to their banks and borrow money to buy corporate stocks. It's all done with bookkeeping. Of course down at the bottom there is a tiny percent of real, actual cash or goods, on which a fantastic construct of illusion is built. To erode this phoney business is first, to diffuse the bank's hoard of accumulated wealth, and get more of it into the hands of workers and worker owned industry. Other means involve eroding the ability of banks to back up their credit -- to collect payment on loans -- such as might occur in a stock market crash or "Savings and Loan Scandal" type of scenario. Developments in the electronics industry could also become a factor. No one should own the means of production -- or control the product -- other than the workers themselves. The only exception is that communities can own natural resources, and share ownership of industrial equipment. 4-d. CLASS To establish Industrial Democracy and worker ownership, the first purpose of the Industrial Union must be to build healthy industries. Fighting the employer is only a means -- not the goal. In the Third Printing (1993) of the Seventh Revised Edition (1979) of the IWW's "One Big Union" pamphlet appears this statement: "The emancipation of the working class must be the class conscious act of the working class itself." This statement informs us that emancipation cannot be imposed top-down, it must be an act of the workers. However, this emancipation will never be a "class conscious" act, nor will the "working class" ever act as if it were a single entity. It is not an entity, because the working class only has existence by contrast with the capital class. The minority capital class does exist and does exploit -- it is an identifiable group set apart. True, the vast majority of people have to work for a living, so you can call them the working class; but the working class has nothing else in common. They are smart, stupid, good, and bad. Some workers will stand beside you in a fight with the boss, and some will go over and help the boss. There is no way that this entire population, the working class, will ever agree on the same goal and strategy and act as one thing. Except that, each and every one wants a better life and more money. A change of industrial ownership can only be done by the economic activity of the workers. The workers do not carry out economic activity objectively, as a class; they act subjectively, for a better life for themselves and their families and communities. The workers do not own their workplace as a class, they do not self- manage their production as a class, and they do not earn a living as a class. They carry out this subjective industrial and economic activity as individuals, and as Industrial Union members. Class will disappear as soon as all capital is put into industry, and industry is owned by all its workers. The Union of the 21st century must base its identity on industry -- not on a relationship with employers -- to find the interests of its members. The way forward is for the Industrial Union to take responsibility for industry on behalf of its workers and the communities. When the Union asserts responsibility for industry, the crimes of employers automatically become sharply visible. Labor disputes with employers can be dealt with in the context of responsible industrial practices, applying standards set by the Industrial Union. In the 20th century, unions tried to force the employer to take more responsibility -- getting the employer to pay for health insurance, getting the employer to replant more trees. These short term benefits are counter productive in the long term because it removes responsibility further away from control by workers themselves. If the workers' Unions want health insurance, let them see to it -- commanding higher wages to pay it, if necessary. Coercing the employer to increase its paternal role reinforces the class hierarchy. Of course, in the 1990s the owner is in immediate control of the cash flow. The Union of workers does not want to pay for installing a wheel ramp or safety valve in a building not owned by themselves. This calls for creative solutions to give the Union as much control as possible in the given situation. A good approach would be to force the employer to give the money to the Union, which would then get the project installed. Or, the workers may go ahead and install it -- perhaps getting the community involved in funding -- and then demand the employer reimburse them. If the workers Union can acquire any sort of interest in the ownership of the premises or equipment, so much the better. If the employer requires the workers to wear uniforms, the Union can buy its own uniforms instead of buying or renting them through the employer. With ownership comes control. The workers don't like to wear uniforms anyway. Once uniforms are under the control and responsibility of the union, perhaps one day they will not come back from the cleaners. If the workers own their own trucks or computers, they can have more control of their work. Industrial Unions should "help" employers by helping workers to purchase pieces of industry. An economic war will be fought for the purpose of diffusing the capital of the few owners of industry. They must be forced to sell property, corporate shares, etc, or forced to lose it/shut down through bankruptcy, or it must be taken from them by subterfuge or by any feasible means. Industrial Unions can use a variety of methods on the economic landscape to help each other gain control of industries, one piece at a time. In strictly industrial terms, having a large amount of produced wealth drained off by a few individuals is harmful to the industry. If more profits are returned to equipment and labor, the industry will produce better. The Industrial Union is responsible for its industry. The Industrial Union of workers cannot avoid the duty of stopping any excessive profit drains to one or a few individuals. Any accumulation of capital outside of industry is unhealthy for the economy, and must be diffused. The workers who make up the Industrial Union, each in his or her workplace, will be concerned less with their duty to the whole society or industry, but more specifically with their personal income, new equipment for their worker-owned workplace, perhaps a desire to produce quality products for their communities. They will see direct self interest in redistributing the excess profits of a few, for the benefit of themselves and fellow workers. The best way to prevent the rise of a new capital class, is to prevent the use of credit (non-existent wealth) as capital, and prevent interest payments on borrowed money. 5-e. INCENTIVE & WORKERS INCOME There is a reason for each step in the production and distribution process. The farmer grows wheat because s/he can sell it. Of course, we all know the real reason for growing wheat is so people can eat bread and stay alive. But the individual farmer -- or Industrial Union of Farmers -- will not grow wheat simply because other people need to eat. The farmer cannot grow a crop without some kind of return to sustain the costs of production -- to keep equipment repaired, buy seeds, fertilizer or tools for next year. Also, the farmer and family want to eat and live comfortably. What would happen if the farmer grew wheat and dumped it all in the town square for any who needed it? In return, the barber could give the farmer (and everyone) free haircuts, the veterinarian treats the farmer's dog for free, and metal workers build farm tools and set them out in the square for the taking. In theory it seems possible for such a system to function, each giving what s/he can and taking what s/he needs. Given conditions of abundant production, no one would feel compelled to hoard up the wheat or tools, there would be no point because there is always plenty when needed. The problem is, no one would feel compelled to produce abundantly. The farmer would have no incentive to grow bigger or better tasting wheat or more of it. In fact, the crop might get smaller each year. Unless somebody was there to say, you must grow 100 bushels, or no more free haircuts. And then we're back to self-interest, and we may as well go back to open market because it is simpler. It is no use trying to plan production to meet the social needs using a top down approach. The federated Industrial Unions will meet and talk about the big picture. But their basic building blocks are the workplaces where members are able to secure a living and a life for themselves. Without the effective operation of self interest -- where the worker gets what s/he needs as a result of her/his labor -- there is no industry. Humans as social beings have learned that there is strength in numbers. Self interest is often identical with social interest. That is why workers joined trade unions in the 20th century. Self interest will motivate workers in the 21st century to pool their labors and wealth in Industrial Union organizations that provide job protection and economic security for themselves, their children and their communities. 5-f. VALUE The assignment of economic value to goods, services and labor has proceeded slowly with the development of industrial civilization. There was a time when most things were not bought or sold, but obtained free or through labor, directly from the land. People have always built their own houses, even after it became possible to buy them or hire someone to build them. People still build their own houses in many parts of the world, but in industrially advanced countries it is no longer possible. If you want a house you have to buy it. Many other products have gradually come to be obtained only by buying and selling -- for example, water, heating fuel, and kitchen utensils. Thus the practice of buying and selling has gradualy encroached upon more and more of the actual economy. In the 1990s, even in urban societies there is still some "production" of benefit to society which is not bought and sold -- personal services that people do for each other all the time, and volunteer work. But there is also an increase of charging money for personal services. The division of labor, increased population, and the sterility of urban life are partly responsible for this progression of "value." The Industrial Union plan divides labor by industry, and encourages unrecognized workers to assert their worth and the place of their industry in the economy of value. This assertion forces society to acknowledge the real costs and values of the production of social life. Every person who is producing something is a contributor to social and economic wealth. A person may produce art, or fortune telling, or historical research -- all the things that people actually do, are part of the whole. This inclusive view of human society is the same as a wholistic view of the forest, which counts not only the tall trees of value, but also mushrooms, muskrats and soil bacteria. At the end of the 20th century, the tremendous work done by women in the home and family has barely begun to be recognized as part of social economy. Some people might prefer to do away with value -- with buying and selling - - altogether. But by forcing society to become aware of the numerous inter- connected kinds of labor necessary to the wealth and quality of society, we can do away with power-class relationships based on inflated values assigned to certain contributors. In some societies soldiers and police have been highly valued and paid, while women doing equally essential child care and food services were forced to struggle and often hindered. In the 1990s, corporate executives are highly valued and paid by shareholders, while the workers who do the equally valuable work of cleaning the offices are on the edge of starvation. Rather than destroying value, the Industrial Union plan counts the value of all whose labor makes up the whole. 5-g. SHARING THE WEALTH In the 21st century, we may hope society will meet the human needs of prosperity, security, and peace. This requires that wealth be adequately distributed -- since civil peace and prosperity can only result from a well fed, housed, and educated population. In the 20th century, there was often a large gap between the wages of different occupations. Retail food employees did not have the same bargaining power as a union of bricklayers. More skill and training is necessary to lay bricks; when they withhold their labor they cannot be replaced easily. In successive union actions the bricklayers are able to demand higher wages. On the other hand, when retail food workers withhold their labor, the employer may find it easier to simply replace them with scabs. Industrial Union control of industry will not necessarily result in equal pay for all. However, it will be recognized that schools require not only teachers, but also floor sweepers and window washers as well as students. The recognition is not automatic, but happens when all these workers participate democratically in planning and control of the education workplace. Methods for sharing earned wealth will vary. Generally it will be the local cooperative industrial unit -- the factory, garage, store, office, farm -- the seller of the product, which earns income. Workers of that unit can decide how to divide income among themselves. An attitude of tolerance will be standard in 21st century society -- tolerance for different races, sexes, customs, and (non-violent) behavior. Industrial Unions will need to facilitate relations among a great variety of people, allowing freedom to innovate and do things in different ways. There is not one system to be imposed on everybody, rather we need flexible systems that will incorporate and accommodate complexity. At the same time, population pressures and ecological awareness will be intolerant of waste, pollution and needless damage. Everyone will be expected to take responsibility for their own actions, including industrial effects. People who are not satisfied with a social goal that retains property, capital, buying and selling as facets of economic life, are free to pursue more extensive ideals in their local workplaces and communities. Democratic ownership and control of the workplace and the product, is a great step forward towards economic democracy, but it may not bring about universal equality, or free the individual from all limits. When workers own their workplaces they are free to order internal structure as they wish, just as people in residential communities are also free to set up the kinds of governing structures they want. Worker ownership opens up society and the economy for diverse methods. While one shoe factory may be communist and share all income equally, another shoe factory may set competitive pay quotas. Both are local unions of the same Shoe Makers Industrial Union. One local Union of Information Workers may run by consensus, while another local of the same industry elects managers. The Industrial Union of Food Service workers includes solitary hot dog vendors and the staffs of large restaurants. Shared ownership by workers of their own industrial units allows a wide range of methods to be integrated into the democratic industry sphere. 5-h. SUPPLY AND DEMAND The demand for apples creates the original incentive for the grower to produce apples. S/he sees that apples are selling for around 25 cents a bushel, and believes that labor will enable him/her to produce enough apples to sustain a living at this price. If apples were piled up in the village square for free, s/he would not bother going out to grow apples; and therefore, there would be no apples produced to pile in the square. Yes -- it is possible that Citizens would approach the town square and say, "Look, fellow Citizens, there are not as many apples as we would like. Let us form a Worker Collective to produce more apples next year and pile them in the square, so the community will be healthy." Within Industrial Democracy, any community or group may decide to share wealth among themselves freely or by some formula. Perhaps someday the free economy will evolve. A first step for society as a whole is to advance to worker ownership within the structure of the buying and selling, supply and demand economy. Although no law will stop someone from starting up non-Union production, Industrial Unions are industrial resource centers as well as training grounds for apprentices and new workers. The 21st-century individual who wants to grow (supply) apples would most likely do so by joining the local Industrial Union of Agriculture Workers/Fruit Orchardists. This would give the worker access to knowledge, tools, cooperative labor, and marketing facilities. The local Industrial Union would set the price of apples by democratic methods, and would also enforce industry rules about pesticides or wormy apples. S/he might be starting his or her own little orchard in the backyard, but would do so in cooperation with other local apple growers. There might be some competition for markets between say, Washington state apple growers and Iowa's. Yet in the long run cooperation between them is more likely to predominate. 5-i. PROFITS If there is a bad year for wheat, a natural pressure is created to drive up the price of bread. First, the wheat farmers hope to maintain their living. Then there are bakers and distributors, who -- although producing less bread -- must meet their operating expenses and sustain their labor. At the same time, people are clamoring for bread which makes it easy for the producers to raise prices. The problem is when producers deliberately keep on producing less in order to keep the prices high: enforced scarcity. Nearly all commercial farm production in the last half of the 20th century was done with some type of quota system. Each farmer was assigned a quantity of eggs or corn that s/he could produce. Prices were thus stabilized - - fixed -- at a level to allow farmers to meet costs. This is not an ideal system, because it prevents the price from ever going down. Farmers who discovered cheaper production methods simply pocketed the extra profit, instead of lowering their prices. As individuals they could not lower prices even if they wanted to. (In reality it was the bank who did the pocketing in most cases.) Another problem with the quota system was that excess production would be thrown away, even while people in the community were hungry. Not just on farms, but throughout the food industry. Food not sold at the going price by wholesalers, retailers or processing plants, was dumped although it was not spoiled and there were hungry people. This "enforced scarcity" is the danger in a system of buying and selling at a value price, for profit. Certain Industrial Unions having gained control of their industries, will have no choice but to utilize something similar to a quota system, to keep a balance between their income from product sales and their costs of producing. This balance prevents wild up-and-down fluctuations in the prices, which would throw producers out of business in the low points. However, some factors of Industrial Union society may help prevent enforced scarcity and replace it with sustained plenty. The Industrial Union of producers may not do all their trade in cash sales. It seems likely, for example, that the local Union of Bus Drivers will make a deal with the local Union of Farmers for a direct exchange: so many bus rides in exchange for so many apples. A complex of such cross-arrangements may develop, and this may be enough to cause effective distribution of apples throughout the local society -- so that no one is left hungry due to being unable to pay the cash price for apples. In addition, the Industrial Unions will be subject to influence by the communities and the workers of other industries. Just as in a case of short supply, in a case of artificially high prices the community will speak to the Apple Growers' Industrial Union. But will some people in the community be left out -- perhaps the local Poets Industrial Union, who don't make very much money, and have no power to bring pressure on the Apple Growers? It is impossible to say exactly how this problem of price and profit -- enforced scarcity -- will be prevented. But it was not prevented by 20th century economic methods, and any top-down plan to enforce abundance will result in a shortage of apple production while draining away profits for administration. The 20th century problem with buying and selling is the artificial creation of scarce supply and scarce capital, to maintain high prices. The factor which balances this, is competition; another company comes along with more supply at a lower price; but in competition, one or another may win and create a new monopoly. The only balancing factor which will work against this scarcity-monopoly cycle in Industrial Democracy is inter-dependence. The Union of workers acting in self interest will generally seek to obtain a higher income for their labor. However, this group of industrial workers must function in connection with all the other industrial union groups. They must obtain supplies, they rely on trucks or rails, communications and other services from the surrounding industrial environment. These other industrial union locals also have children to feed and a living to sustain, and so they will bring pressure on the Apple Growers: If you won't lower the price of your apples, then we shall raise the price you pay for ladders and buckets you use to pick the apples. In addition, the industrial unit will be subject to demands made by the geographic community. The community consists of all the local industrial workers and their families, the retired, the children, etc. This community will say: Our children need apples. The majority of human beings are not overwhelmingly driven by greed. This can be seen today where trade union members constantly give away money to support other unions. Buying and selling on an open market will work for fair and equitable distribution, when democratic controls are in operation at the point of production. 5.j. COLLECTIVE BUYING AND SELLING Buying and selling expresses the principle of give-and-take found throughout nature. Each person should contribute something in return for what s/he receives, in order to be balanced as an individual. However, if some are left unable to buy what they need, there are problems. For a community, it is very sensible to provide the basic needs of people on a collective basis. Housing, transportation, communications, education, certain basic clothing and certain basic foods, as well as basic health care, water, recycling etc., can all be provided universally within the community. This can be arranged among the combined Industrial Unions and the community through bartering and payments. Let's say that all the people in Chicago receive all the above. House builders, train drivers, phone workers, and all workers involved in producing those services/products, would thus be paid in part by those very services which they, too, receive. House builders can ride the train free, so don't need money to buy the fare. They are exempt from any transportation tax, because they "pay" by building houses. The train driver gets a discount on his/her housing tax. Collective provision of basic necessities simply prevents and avoids a lot of problems with people getting sick and freezing to death, or robbing each other. It is not direct user-pay buying and selling, although people do pay for the services through "taxes" or labor. Barter may be expected also between Industrial Unions in different places. It is an important way for Industrial Unions to help each other get by on less cash. 5-k. NON ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS -- INNOVATION Just as under "capitalist" free market, many new innovations and unexpected products have appeared, so in the Industrial Union free market, innovation and creativity will flourish. Workers who innovate and produce a new product will benefit from their own activity. To understand this benefit, it helps to consider how workers benefit in the 20th century in similar circumstances. In the 20th century, the making of a new product required capital investment by Mr. Businessman, who hired people to do the actual work of production, according to Mr. Businessman's design and method. The workers benefitted from the product, by receiving wages, which are in effect a (small) portion of the profits. In Industrial Union economy, the capital investment necessary to start up new production will be provided by the workers themselves -- with or without capital assistance from the Industrial Union or community. A new product will be created in response to a perceived demand, very much as Mr. Businessman of the 20th century perceived a demand before starting up his new product. The difference here is that Mr. Businessman will no longer be part of the equation. In practice, there is also a difference in perception of demand. Using for an example the Rubix Cube of the 1980s: a demand was perceived for the Rubix Cube. Someone speculated that people would buy this item. A Rubix Cube cannot be eaten, it does not provide housing or clothing or medicine. It is, however, an educational object. Thus in fact, production of the Rubix Cube benefitted the owners (Mr. Businessman), the workers who receive wages for actually making it, AND it benefits society at large by being an educational tool. In 21st century Industrial Unionism, a product like the Rubix Cube would be created in a very similar fashion. First the cube is invented by an individual or group. Perhaps its inventor would attempt to interest a community in capitalizing production. Or the inventor might logically approach a union of workers in a branch of the education industry. Having obtained their interest, the proposal would be taken to a union of plastics manufacturer workers. Once the object is placed into production, it will be sold on an open market; and the proceeds will benefit both the inventor and the plastic workers. Although the Rubix Cube is an educational object, the education workers would not be part of the direct benefit equation. Even if Education Workers helped capitalize production, they should get no profits above the repayment of loans. This example of the Rubix Cube illustrates how non-essential products will continue to be created and made widely available in Industrial Democratic economy. But let us consider how a product would not get made. First, any number of proposed products might be shot down by fellow workers on grounds of pornography, environmental effects, etc. Let's suppose an Industrial Union, worker owned television factory is doing quite well and wishes to develop a new product so it can hire more full time (28-hr. week?) workers. Some young apprentices design a television that can be installed onto a chair, to be used in bus stations. The viewer sits in the chair and inserts a quarter, and the TV comes on. It's a good technical job and stands to make a good profit, so they bring a sample to the bus station. Here the Transport Workers who work at the depot -- busily selling tickets and losing people's baggage -- may reject the design. It makes the chairs uncomfortable, it's too noisy in the bus station, and the Cleaning Workers predict people will butt their cigarettes on top of the plastic casing. Even when offered a share of the quarters, depot workers say no. The bus station, as an individual Transport Workers Industrial Union, worker-owned workplace, may not need to expand its work force or its profits. The operation of the bus station is sustainable at its level of cash flow and salaries, in accord with standards across the transport industry. The enterprise is not looking to expand profits -- by any means as an end in itself -- because the self interest of the workers is satisfied. 6. WHO ARE THE PRODUCERS? 6-a. UNCOUNTED LABOR The Industrial Union must include all workers whose labor goes towards making a particular product. While these workers are easily recognized in a steel mill, in some industries workers have never been recognized or paid. Housekeepers and child care workers are perhaps the most significant example. Many kinds of community work are done for free by organized clubs and charity/educational groups. There are people who work alone -- "self-employed" craft and trade workers. In the 1990s, many employees are technically classified as "self-employed contract workers." It is key to organize all the producers in Industrial Unions, regardless of the avenues of ownership, tactics or the industrial methods of different groups. The Industrial Union is the forum of the workers, the resource and information base for the industry; these functions give it the ability to control and manage industry. In some cases the formerly unpaid producers will organize to seek pay from communities or from those who use their services. But there are those who work for social motives, providing services to the community as volunteers. These producers are also Industrial Workers. 6-b. ENVIRONMENTALISTS The Environmental Worker whose labor is to measure the toxic content of a river downstream from a chemical plant -- and who sounds the alarm when the pollution count is too high -- must be considered an essential worker of the chemical industry. The Environmental Worker (paid or unpaid) as a member of the Chemical Workers Industrial Union has voice and vote among the plant worker-owners. If working on behalf of the Aquaculture Workers' industry, s/he would have to notify the Chemical Workers of a pollution problem, and there must be some method of discussion between the two Industrial Unions. In either case, the Environmental Worker is essential. Without her/his work, the river could become poisoned and kill the plant workers in their downstream homes; or the poison could wipe out the fishing industry downstream, which purchases the chemical products for cleaning its nets. The links may be direct or indirect, but there are always links to be traced between all industries and their effects. This new group of workers known as Environmentalists, must be given a place and membership in the appropriate Industrial Unions. Forest Environmentalists are a case in point: thousands of them got arrested, aided by thousands of supporters, to temporarily stop MacMillan Bloedel corporation from clearcutting Clayoquot Sound (1993). Stopping one part of the clearcut operation put 25 Mac-Blo employees out of work -- but the action saved thousands of jobs for the future. These forest-environmentalists, although unpaid -- in fact, they had to pay fines -- were taking responsibility for the Forest Industry. The 25 actual wage employees were not, and neither were the government-registered Foresters. Which group deserves to be considered the Industrial Union of Forest Workers? Of course, all groups must be included. Anyone who devotes her or his time and labor to an industry, must be included as a member of that Industrial Union. Forest Environmental Workers deserve voice and vote in the Forest Workers Industrial Union, as long as they remain significantly engaged in the work. The Industrial Union is based, not on those who make their living off a product, but on all those who help make the product. Lines and definitions between Industrial Unions are based on what is practical, since ultimately every industry is inter-dependent with all the rest. Environmentalists may form their own Environment Workers Industry Union (See Earth Stewards IU672), or they may choose to join the Forest, Aquaculture, or other Industrial Unions. Now, the 1990s is the time to build Industrial Unions with Environmentalists at the core. The industries we build for the 21st century will be sustainable democratic industries. 6-c. MULTIPLE JOBS, FLEXIBILITY & MOBILITY Lines between industries are sometimes blurred. Is the parent raising children at home a member of Early Childhood Education (IU 620), or of the HomeMakers (IU 680)? The worker both educates and provides home services; s/he could well belong to both Industrial Unions at once. Workers in the new society of Industrial Democracy must be free to choose -- or quit -- their work and occupation. An individual may work in a number of industries. This has been the tendency in the late 20th century due to the increase of part time and temporary jobs. It also happens to be a natural tendency among industrially- integrated communities. The one person may spend the summer growing tomatoes as an Agricultural Worker of Industrial Union 110 -- and spend the winter canning tomatoes as a worker of Food Processing Workers IU 460, or shipping them out for General Distribution Workers IU 670. The same person may take a three-month course in History of BeeKeeping, becoming for the term a student member of Education Workers IU 620. In the individual worker, there is a meeting of several industries at any given time -- or over a lifetime. The case of a student (Education Worker) who spends the summer defending trees (Forest Worker) is not different from the Midwife (Health Care Worker) who, between calls, runs a used car dealership (General Distribution Worker). To accommodate all variations, the Industrial Unions must be set up to provide multiple levels of input. First are those workers whose full time work is harvesting Persimmon wood -- full-fledged members of Forest Workers IU 120. Then there is the worker who may spend only one season as a tree planter. S/he is a temporary member of the Forest Workers IU 120, with voice and vote - - but perhaps not the same degree of voice and vote as the "permanent full time" Forest Workers. Some people prefer temporary or part time employment. This is especially true in the late 20th century, because everybody hates their jobs and wants to leave as soon as possible. The working conditions of Industrial Democracy will make work enjoyable and fulfilling; people will shed tears when they leave the pleasant workplaces and their temporary co-workers. Still, one of the goals of Industrial Democracy is more free time and flexibility -- giving people more control of their own lives and labor. The Industrial Unions must extend fair rights of participation in decision making to part timers and temps, with a system to enable workers to enter and leave smoothly. The worker's rights to participate must begin immediately with his labor in the industry; she must be informed and enabled from the start. "Instant ownership shares" starting at the moment of employment as an Industrial Union Worker, and ending with termination, will accommodate the democratic participation of temp workers in workplace decisions. 20th century industries under capital control were not responsible or accountable to the community or society. But in 21st century Industrial Democracy, every person who works is responsible for the industry s/he works in. It would not be right for anyone -- even a temporary worker -- to avoid taking her or his share of responsibility for the industry and its effects on the community. A variety of industrial circumstances within the industry will necessitate flexible forms of participation. Some Building Construction Workers will discuss and vote by electronic modem, others will rely on face to face meetings or mail. Their diverse input is integrated -- dovetailed into a democratic process of their Industrial Union. Unions must be prepared to accommodate a variety of conditions and participation, in order to fairly represent, and to establish the Industrial Unions of All the Workers as owners and operators of industries. Industrial Unions must embrace individuals who work alone, or in small shops of 2 or more workers. 6-d. HOURS OF WORK As long as worker-owned cooperatives are competing with industrial operations owned by a few or distant individuals, and as long as some workers of the Industrial Union remain enslaved to work for the profits of capital owners, there will be no major reduction of work hours. Minor adjustment is possible within workplaces. The 40-hour standard is arbitrary. Any standard of hours or wages is arbitrary, and in reality there is a great variety of hours on the job across the spectrum of industries. The arbitrary standards established in the 20th century, are only needed to protect wage slaves from being run into the ground by dictatorial employers. Once we are in a situation of worker owned industries, then it is up to each individual worker, and each workplace Union of workers, to decide their hours. In Farm, Fishery and Forest industries, where billions will find employment in the 21st century, there are no fixed hours. At certain seasonal dates, workers must labor from dawn to dusk. At other times, they may have only one or two hours of work per day. Looking ahead to the point when other industries are completely self managed, then hours of work within an industry can be reduced. Then the Industrial Union will coordinate relations between workplaces, and with other Industry Unions -- suppliers and buyers of the product. Not to say all this will be administrated for the workers, but that workers will negotiate relationships that run smoothly and reduce costs of operating. This will enable reduced hours. Workers in the 20th century have generally been content with a comfortable living wage, more interested in free time than overtime. Some workers choose longer hours in order to accomplish goals such as buying a house. In Industrial Democracy, some people will enjoy work and spend long hours at it. Looking at society as a whole, it is well known that if you subtract the great amount of useless/waste production, the production of what humans actually need and want could be accomplished in less than half the hours people presently spend working in the 1990s. However, it is no use looking at society as a whole because we will have no central planner to set the quotas of production. Initially, workers of the Industrial Union cooperative workplace will have to compete with industrial units that exploit their workers. This leads to the argument by some, that worker-owned cooperatives in a "capitalist" economic system merely become exploiters of themselves, since they are forced to work long hours for low wages, and must delay improvements in the workplace due to lack of money. Would they then be better off remaining as employees of capital owners? As co-op owners, they get to decide how to use their profits, even if small. Self- exploitation is better than exploitation by someone else. Taking over ownership and control of the workplace within the "capitalist" economic system is a step, which can lead to greater steps. 6-e. WHY JOIN THE UNION? Why will the worker or group of workers join the Industrial Union? In the 21st century, they no longer need protection from the boss at their workplace. They have succeeded in establishing ownership and self management of their work operation. They are able to make the product, and there is a market. We are back to the factor of self interest, where Unions have always found the reason for existence. The Union will not ensure higher wages by squeezing them out of the boss -- for there is no boss. Instead, the Industrial Union will provide industrial knowledge and resources which enable workers to make the most of their labor. The Industrial Union may be a source of capital for new equipment or manufacturing start ups; the IU will certainly provide communication of ideas, issues, technology and industrial methods among industry workers. When one group of clothing makers discovers that plexiglass can be used effectively for patterns, this method will be explained to all other clothing makers, who may or may not wish to duplicate the method. The Industrial Union is to take over all the useful functions which in the 20th century were functions of the "capitalist owners." In the 20th century, every business owner/manager belonged to operators or manufacturers associations - - industrial information networks which provided publications about issues and methods. Some associations of industry owners even made rules on product safety. Such will become the business of Industrial Unions, as owners and operators of industry in the 21st century. The worker, whether a self employed tattoo artist, or one of a hundred workers employed in a co-op steel plant, will benefit from joining the Industrial Union because it provides him and her with information and resource connections pertaining to the industry. In the 21st century, every worker will be in part responsible for the successes and mistakes of the industry where they work. In the 20th century, the wage employee went to work for a retail food chain not knowing or caring about the methods and effects of the industry as a whole. She or he just operated the cash register and collected the paycheque. Larger issues of the industry, such as profitability, efficiency, automation, environmental effects or economic effects on communities, were the "legal" responsibility of the owners and managers. In 21st century Industrial Democracy it will be up to workers to run the whole show. If they fail to make ends meet, their jobs will disappear. If their workplace pollutes and wipes out duck nesting ponds, they could be shut down by duck-egg industry workers. The Industrial Unions are the industries. Forest Environmental Workers will join the Industrial Union because that is the way to integrate their work with the work of tree planters, loggers, tourism operators etc. The Environmentalist's work may be to document the negative effects of logging on soil erosion in a particular timber stand. In the 20th century, to get this point across, the Forest Environmentalist had to throw up blockades and chain herself to trees. The Industrial Union provides a forum where the Environmentalist can go as an equal to the body of forest workers - - the loggers, the hunters and gatherers and cultivators of forest herbs, nuts, fruits, resins, oils, cellulose, and wild animal products -- go to them and say listen, you're dragging the logs across steep hillsides and destroying the soil base; you've either got to leave those steep hills alone, or find a different way to move the logs. There would ensue a discussion -- perhaps a controversy. All would agree that soil is a priority -- but those workers immediately engaged in logging steep hillsides might say well wait a minute, we are depending on that harvest for our living this season. The Industrial Union provides the means of resolving problems for the best self-interests of all Forest Workers. The Industrial Union is the forest workers, who are responsible for the health of the industry and the forests. In the immediate term, the Industrial Union might help the loggers find more income with fewer logs, by selling burls to bolo makers in Spain. The Industrial Union might grant more logging rights in an adjacent area to compensate; or even compensate loggers directly for lost income with money from the Industrial Union. In the meantime, an alternative way of moving the logs on steep hillsides would be searched for. Some cases would be more urgent. The Industrial Unions would decide that logging on a particular hillside should never happen at all -- maybe it's habitat for rare wildlife. Those log workers would have to change jobs -- they might harvest a different product from the same forest, or search for a different industry. In that extreme case, the various federated Industrial Unions, together with the residential community, provide resources to aid the workers' transitions. The Forest Workers Industrial Union might give the hillside loggers a kind of "severance bonus," in effect buying out their interest in the forest. The local Industrial Union of Coppersmiths might provide re-training as copper kettle makers, a training assisted by the Education IU. Such local and federated Industrial Union organization combined with community councils, provides a much more effective job and income security than government programs of the 20th century. Instead of being at the mercy of an alien bureaucracy, the worker is able to appeal directly to co-workers and community neighbors, as well as to fellow workers abroad whose common interest is in the same industry. All industries are inter-connected. Industrial Unions provide avenues for facilitating the connections. 6-f. JOB CREATION The millions of work hours freed by stopping the production of waste, by shutting down forest based paper, by putting the squeeze on petroleum and chemicals, can be accommodated by Industrial Union organization: mutual support, re-training and re-location assistance, and the creation of new worker- owned industries and jobs. Vast, almost unlimited opportunities exist in farming, forest and forest products, and aquaculture. These co-op based, partly self sufficient industries can be highly flexible in absorbing extra workers. New jobs can also be created in education, childcare, housing, healing, criminal rehab, bicycles, recycling, support for the elderly, and cleaning up the toxic mess -- all of which will greatly improve the quality of life. There are certainly millions of workers around the world eager to provide these and other services to their communities. To liberate industry for the benefit of society, work must be freed from the dictatorship of capital. In the 20th century, work that everyone agrees needs to be done, such as cleaning pollution from a lake, remains undone because there is no capital available. There is no capital available because the owners of capital are not looking to do work that needs to be done to benefit communities. The owners of capital are only looking for quick profits for their personal use. Instead of being controlled, bought and sold by capital, workers must control their accumulated wealth and put it to good use. The same equation applies: workers in their Industrial Unions also seek profits from their labor. But the effect is quite different when the profits are divided among workers. If the Industrial Union accumulates capital, it may embark on public works, and pay out that wealth as salaries to its own members. Communities may also allocate capital towards works of public benefit. Part 3/4 21ST CENTURY UNION: ORGANIZING FOR SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES ///by Carlos Murray, member IWW, editor of Industrial Worker newspaper 1992-93. Free for electronic distribution only. Please do not print distribute without permission. Copyright Dec.25, 1993 Carlos Murray /// Contents: Part 3/4: 7. PROJECTIONS FOR INDUSTRY 100. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries 110. Farm 120. Forest 130. Fisheries 140. Horticulture & Landscaping 200. Department of Mining 210. Metal Mines 220. Coal Mines 230. Oil 300. Department of Construction 310. Way & Viaduct Construction & Maintenance 320. Ship Building 330. Building Construction 400. Department of Manufacture 410. Textile & Leather 420. Furniture & Wood 430. Chemical 440. Metal & Machine 441. Steel & Metal Mill 442. Motor Vehicle 443. Aerospace Craft Part 4/4: 444. Machinists & Welders 445. Cycle & Instrument 446. Jewellery 460. Food Processing 470. Electric & Electronic 480. Glass Ceramic Plastic 490. Pulp & Paper 500. Department of Transportation 510. Marine Transport 520. Rail 530. Motor 540. Municipal 550. Air 600. Department of Public Services ROLE OF GOVERNMENT 610. Health Care PRISONS 620. Education 630. Entertainment 640. Restaurant Hotel & Building Service 660. General Distribution 670. Public Services 671. Finance 672. Earth Stewards 673. Emergency, Rescue & Security 680. Household Services 690. Sex Trade 700. Department of Communication 710. Radio TV & Telephone 720. Data Storage & Retrieval 730. Courier & Postal 740. Information Research & Advertising 750. Print & Publishing * * * 7. PROJECTIONS FOR INDUSTRY How will each industry be organized by the Industrial Unions in the 21st century? It is on the industrial landscape where workers can benefit themselves and take control -- democratic control -- of their economic existence. Control begins on the shop floor where work is done, with control of labor itself -- conditions, hours, benefits, and a healthy workplace. To control your own body and mind, is to control your work. Next is to control the equipment, premises, product -- and profits. Workers' Industrial Unions must reach into business self-management, and into the banks and boardrooms of capital -- to bring control of accumulated wealth home, to the shop floor. Capital -- accumulated wealth -- must be dissolved into industry, with industry owned by all its workers. We are using the numbered system of the IWW, the only comprehensive industrial plan ever created in the history of the world. Industrial Union categories have been added or deleted, Industrial Sections added within Industrial Unions, names changed, and minor changes made from the original, official IWW Hagerty's wheel of industry created in the early years of the 20th century. These proposals are not official proposals of the IWW, only the views of one member. The comments for each industry are far from complete, but may serve as a starting point. Workers like you should follow up by determining exactly what changes and directions are needed in your industry, and what are the best strategies for worker ownership. Such discussions and plans may be submitted by workers to the IWW. Democratic coordination of work enables workers of the Industrial Unions to take full responsibility for industrial production. Industry is the responsibility of every person who works in it. * * * 100. Department of Agriculture & Fisheries (IWW--Industrial Department 100) 110. Farm Workers Industrial Union (IWW--IU110) Agricultural production was done mainly by family farms at the beginning of the 20th century. Subsequent years saw steady growth of agribusiness and corporate farming characterized by machines and chemicals. While this has increased quantity production per man-hour, the quality of food has steadily deteriorated. Toxic chemicals saturate food damaging health, and devastate soil, water and wildlife. Small independent and family farmers barely earn enough to survive in this agribusiness, although large amounts of cash pass through their hands on the way to the bank. Increasing dependence on expensive machines and chemicals has caused a steady decrease in the numbers of workers who benefit from being able to work on farms, either as hired labor or small farm owners. Yet there is no shortage in any country of unemployed workers willing to engage in agricultural production, given good working conditions and a fair share of the profits. When all the effects and hidden costs are counted, the agribusiness model is not efficient, except to create profits for the few owners of corporate farms, banks, and machinery and chemical companies. Consideration of the side effects makes it clear that chemical-mechanical farm industry is not sustainable, and therefore cannot possibly be the farm industry of the 21st century. The family farm will flourish in the 21st century, simply because it is what happens when people choose to live, work and raise children on a piece of farm land. The family may be a larger extended communal or cooperative group. 21st century industry methods will combine advanced technology such as greenhouses, hydroponics, and on-site renewable energy, with old labor- intensive, organic methods. Industrial Union farms of the 21st century will consist of varities of worker- owned cooperatives. Already in the 1990s, several kinds of organic, multi- crop, & specialty farming are gaining markets. Most are family farms and many belong to associations to promote their industries. The Industrial Union, beginning now and pointing to the 21st century, must set out -- not simply to organize all farm workers -- but to establish a sustainable farm industry. The Industrial Union of Farm Workers must set forth methods and models, educate, and actively promote sustainable farming as the main foundation for a new society. The Industrial Union can be built in affiliation with existing organizations of progressive farmers, farm worker unions such as UFW, and by setting up Union-owned farms. Such new farm industry start-ups are greatly needed to give many unemployed people an escape from deteriorating city life. To move onto a cooperative Union farm, a worker must be willing to accept food, housing, and other benefits of rural life, in place of high wages. Many people are willing to make this trade-off, given good living and working conditions and time off to go fishing. Farms can support a lot of people on a small cash flow, when resources of field and woodlot are utilized for self-sufficiency. Agribusiness corporate farms may be bought out by the Industrial Union of their employees. Equipped for mono-crop export production, in most cases they will return to multi-crop for local marketing. To buy out a big farm is expensive. Such a corporate farm may hire only a dozen full time, and a hundred seasonal employees. This small group of wage workers, forming a cooperative entity, cannot finance the purchase alone. By planning for more labor intensive methods, they can bring three times their own number into the cooperative to pool their resources. The larger Farm Workers Industrial Union -- consisting of many workers on different types of farms -- should also invest in such unit farm purchases, becoming a co-owner with the actual local worker cooperative. The local community may also invest in farm purchases, in return for a steady supply of food. Food-buying co-ops can be formed for such investments. This is already being done in the 1990s by some farmers and communities. For the community it is a dependable food supply; for the farmers it provides advance sale of their crop so they don't have to go to the bank for loans to buy seeds and supplies. Labor intensive methods reduce operating costs for machines and chemicals, which will help new cooperatives survive. However, bank loans and government loan assistance in most countries require the use of chemical, mechanized, mono-cropping. The Union Farm will have to avoid such encumbrances through paying more cash up front for land purchases. The price of farm land is not fixed. Although a corporate farm may be very expensive, and may not even be for sale when it is turning a good profit, a depression of food prices or run of bad weather can lower the price. In fact, anything that lowers the profits of the corporate farm operation, will also lower the sale price of their land. Farm workers seeking to start up a co-op farm, can seek bargains where land prices are low. If desiring to purchase a corporate farm where they already work, they can use various means to bring down the purchase price and increase the employer's eagerness to sell. The corporate farm's dependency on machines and chemicals makes it highly vulnerable to malfunctions or misapplications. Along with organic, labor intensive cooperative farm models, the Industrial Union will promote new crops and products which benefit society and the natural environment while helping the industry prosper. This includes crops for biogas and liquid fuel, paper, textiles, fibers, cellulose, oils, wax, etc. Biogas fuel production is simple. Many valuable products can be obtained from hemp. Both these facts are well known, yet these methods will not be employed until the Industrial Union of Farmers makes it happen. In making biogas, the farm industry is in competition for the profits of the mighty oil monopolies. In growing hemp, the farmers' industry is in competition for the profits of giant chemical corporations who make synthetic textiles; clearcut rapist corporations who make paper from wood; and alcoholic beverage, pharmaceutical, and tobacco corporations who make legal drugs. It can be readily seen how competition for profits by those who merely own capital, shapes the character of industries and the lives of people who work. Farmers lose their lands and jobs -- or labor in poverty -- while vast profits flow to a few distant non-working owners of the oil, chemical, paper and legal drug companies. This effect of "unfree" enterprise can only be changed by direct industrial and economic action: competition from the organizations of workers themselves. Each farmer or farm worker acting alone can never compete with vast corporations. But united, an effective industrial competition can be asserted; united, farmers can reduce start up costs and create marketing systems; united, farmers can resist the attacks which can be expected from private or government forces attempting to defend corporate profits. "The Right to Farm," is the battle cry for the Farm Workers Industrial Union. It is here at the first base of industrial development, the agriculture industry, where the forces of monopoly and exploitation can suffer their most significant defeat; to free and re-vitalize the farm industry will have the most profound effects on the economy. As long as people in Greenland like to eat bananas, there will continue to be banana plantations for high-yield export of a good-looking banana. Someday, a local Greenland union of workers may produce a thing made of whale flippers that tastes like a banana, undercutting the import market. Until that happens, however, there will continue to be fairly wide distribution of a number of food products. Growing for export requires an emphasis on mono- cropping and high quantity yields; but this can be done with labor intensive, organic methods. It is more efficient in the long run to avoid the costly and destructive chemicals and machinery, letting hand labor take their place. We may predict that when the Industrial Union of Farmer Workers begins to set up co-op farm operations in competition with corporate farms -- while at the same time agitating among the corporate farm employees to take over their lands and tractors -- the corporations may take actions against the Industrial Union. This would consist of price competition and other such "normal" business means, financial pressure through banks or suppliers, and actual disruption and harassment of farm workers or operations. Farm workers who embark on the mission to take control of their work life and their products, must prepare to take a full range of offensive and defensive actions in the process. We do have another choice; we can allow the farm industry to become more toxic and mechanized for the profits of fewer owners -- and let our children live with that. A vigorous farm industry is the foundation of social and economic health. Fight for the Right to Farm! 120. Forest Workers Industrial Union (IWW--IU120) Without trees there would not be human life on Earth. People who work in forest products are trustees of a crucial part of our life support system. Timber clearcuts of the late 20th century degraded more than they benefitted human life. In addition to wood timber, forests contain hundreds of raw materials and products. Forest communities -- where people live in forests and work in forest product industries -- will proliferate in the 21st century as forests are planted, cultivated and defended. New understanding of forest ecosystems will enable "semi-forest," "micro- forest," and varying degrees of tree population environments; from relatively sparse plantings along urban waterways and streams, to dense natural wild woods. In all these types of forests humans will live, harvesting and utilizing resources for a rich variety of valuable products: foods, herbs, wooden articles, paper & cellulose, resins, oils, and animal products. A flexible approach to forests permits a community of workers to utilize diverse available resources for efficiency, and a good quality of life. A forest can sustain a number of humans who are willing to live on less cash and obtain more of their needs from the forest itself. The Industrial Union role is to encourage the formation of sustainable forest industries. Forest Workers may form cooperatives to purchase forest land and establish industries. In order to have prosperous forest products industries, there must be abundant forests. The Industrial Union of Forest Workers must actively oppose commercial use of wood pulp for making paper. Wood timber in building construction should be strictly limited, and substitute materials used such as ferrocrete or recycled plastic. The only logging industry should be Selective Logging. It is up to the Industrial Unions of forest product workers -- those who depend on gathering, hunting, tourism, and wood products manufacture -- as well as forest environmentalist workers -- to enforce standards and make sure forests are sustained. It is these workers and industries that communities will hold responsible and accountable for the health of local forests. 130. Fishery & Aquaculture Workers Industrial Union (IWW -- IU130) The corporate profit fishing industry model has created large scale production methods with little regard for efficiency and much waste of marine species. Large fishing ships may continue to operate in the 21st century, but refinement of methods will allow precise selection of desired catches. Other flexible harvesting methods will realize greater utilization of multiple species. Fish farming, algae and shellfish farming, aquaculture of many types will increase and provide more food. New understanding of marine biological systems, new technology and cooperation by large numbers of people in the Fish & Aquaculture Industrial Union will enable expanded diverse operations in oceans and inland waters. Although large ships and large fish-farms may be owned cooperatively by workers, the primary expansion of this industry will probably be in smaller operations which are easier for workers to set up. Fish stocks are disappearing from over-harvest and pollution of waters. Fisher Unions and Environmentalists together should set and enforce quotas and standards. The bulk of fish for human consumption should be raised in ponds and lakes through re-stocking of natural species. Fish may also be cultured in oceans. Water can be sectioned off with netting, and used to grow species for harvest, or as hatcheries for re-stocking the oceans themselves. Ocean re-stocking will require a high degree of international cooperation by the Industrial Unions. Some species of fish and marine life whose habitat is diminished should be banned from commercial harvest. This Industrial Union program to take responsibility for Fish and marine life industries, will be supported by native peoples and coastal dwellers whose main resource is the ocean. 140. Horticulture Workers Industrial Union (IWW -- Floriculture Workers IU 140) Here is an industry that needs to be reduced on one hand, and increased on the other. In the 1990s, roses and carnations are grown in Colombia and flown by jet to Canada to be sold to romantic people at $15 a dozen. The Horticulture Workers Industrial Union should oppose this wasteful and polluting method, and encourage development of small local flower growing and distribution. Cut flowers are a luxury, but there is nothing harmful about it if done locally and organically. We must insist that it be done this way, or not at all. Cut flowers and dried flowers are one example of products that were formerly free; growing wild or in community gardens. Of course the Napoleons of the world had their gardeners and greenhouses to produce exotic flowers for the dining table. But most people of the world in Napoleon's time could obtain all the flowers they wanted simply by picking them. This industrial group includes all workers in greenhouses and tree nurseries, those who cultivate silk, makers of perfume and other floral products. Tree seedlings and nurseries are a growth industry, an opportunity for workers to start co-op industry. Perfumery can be done almost anywhere with low capital. Gatherers and processors of wild flowers and herbs, may be included in this Industrial Union. Greenhouses can be used in northern climates to extend the local growing season for vegetables. It is feasible to build and operate energy-efficient greenhouses in the north, however set up costs are high. When workers can form a cooperative for this venture -- perhaps assisted by their Industrial Union or community -- this local industry will help replace long distance transport of food or flowers to their community. Workers may not wish to take over existing greenhouse operations, based on high-volume production and requiring high heating costs, due to inefficient construction. In such cases it may be difficult to change the business for local production and still make a living for workers. The best greenhouse models combine renewable energy, fish culture, watering systems, and living quarters for workers. 200. Department of Mining (IWW--Industrial Department. 200) The goal of the Mine Workers Industrial Union in the 21st century, is to be responsible for every aspect of the making and use of their products. Miners themselves must own the mineral deposits -- or the rights and leases - - machinery and equipment. Mine Workers will determine who gets their product. Some minerals are rare, or expensive to produce -- when proper safety and environmental practices are used. By taking over control and ownership of their mining industry, the workers themselves will make safety the first priority in their work. In the 19th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of workers were killed and injured in mining industries. As automation reduces the workforce, high unemployment causes workers to compete for lower wages at non-union mines. In the end, communities no longer benefit from their local resource at all. For a few low paid jobs, the community suffers injury and deaths, pollution, and explosions. Mine communities also subsidize roads, railways, electricity and water used by the mining industry. How to make the leap to worker control of the West Virginia coal mine -- the Ontario nickel mine -- the South African diamond mine? The first step is when the workers, and their communities, make the decision that they will take control even if it takes ten years or more. The bottom line for Mine Workers and communities is: we are the people who live where the resource is, we are the ones who work to obtain the ores and minerals -- this gives us a natural right to assert control of our local resource, the industry and the wealth we produce. Once this determination is made, there are ways and means. The task of the Industrial Union of Miners therefore is to form an economic alliance with the community -- the county, township, or village where the resource is located, and where mine workers live. A strong coalition of residents and local businesses is needed, to support the Miners Union -- first in its role as exclusive bargaining agent with the existing employer/owner. While the Union is bargaining for more safety and benefits, the community can help keep scabs from being brought in; and can play a major role in defense when mine workers are under seige by police and hired corporate or state armies. Pooling financial resources, an Industrial Union co-op is formed to capitalize equipment, operating and labor costs (workers' profit shares). Opportunities for purchase are investigated and plans put into effect. Mine workers who set the goal of ownership and self management need not fear job losses when the corporation is driven to shut down and pull out due to its inability to sustain high profits. Pressure can encourage a cheap sell-out to the Industrial Union. At the moment of negotiating the purchase, the corporation may even find itself unable to deliver the product. Where purchase cannot be achieved, miner community organizations -- when ready to run the industry -- may wish to assert direct control of the mine site. Once in possession of the goods, if the Industrial Union agrees to satisfy past obligations of the mine company, the banks and creditors may go along -- as long as they get paid, they have no reason to care who pays them. The people who buy coal or gold don't care who sells it to them. 210. Metal & Mineral Mine Workers (IWW_- IU210) Metals will continue to find uses, including special alloys for sensitive new technologies such as micro-electronics. Each metal has various uses. In the 1990s, all metals are used wastefully and in excess of what is needed. In general, we need to downscale metals production -- and start recycling metals instead of dumping scrap. Metal ore should be extracted only where it is easy to reach without danger to workers or the use of huge machines and explosives. This industrial group includes miners of borax, sulphur, mercuric oxide, etc. It will be found that some products made from these minerals are not needed; but that some production should be maintained on a labor intensive scale. Also included are miners of gemstones and stone quarry workers. 220. Coal Mine Workers Industrial Union (IWW -- IU 220) Coal use as an energy resource will reduce drastically in the 21st century, but some coal will continue to be extracted and refined. Both coal and petroleum are sources of a number of other products, including medicines, oils, plastics, etc. which will continue to be in demand after fuel uses are replaced by simpler, more efficient technologies. Coal fired electric generation should cease immediately, to be replaced with wind, solar and small scale hydro. Use of coal for steel and other industrial uses should be permitted, at reduced levels. Only the best grade, less polluting coal should be burned, and furnace exhausts should be thoroughly captured and cleaned to reduce emissions. Some coal mines can thus expect to shut down, and coal miners should unite into an Industrial Union to help workers provide themselves new job starts in other industries.