workers' control
Building socialism for the 21st century: interview with Michael A. Lebowitz
[For more articles by or about Michael Lebowitz, click HERE.]
Michael A. Lebowitz interviewed by Darko Vesić and Aleksandar Stojanović
May 7, 2013 -- Left East,suggested to Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal by Michael Lebowitz.
Darko Vesić and Aleksandar Stojanović: Capitalism has been in crisis for several years now and in response to this crisis the capitalist states practice so-called austerity measures. If we look at the historical dynamics of capitalism in the last half century, we see that they responded to the crisis of the 1970s with what is now called “neoliberalism”. If the restoration of growth is what must be carried out as a response to the crisis, we can say that neoliberalism of the 1970s was successful. Yet, can we say same of present-day “austerity measures”?
Britain: The 1970s and the movement for workers’ control
[Click for more discussion of workers' control, cooperatives and "green jobs".]
By Andrew Coates
Trade unions have historically bargained for better terms for the sale of labour power; they have not been able to challenge the existence of the labour market itself. Today, however, the relation between "political" and "economic" struggle have changed.” -- Perry Anderson. "The Limits and Possibilities", in The Incompatibles: Trade Union Militancy and the Consensus,1967.
Mexico: Can worker-owners make a big factory run?
Two workers of the 1000-member TRADOC cooperative. The hiring of women in the plant was one of the many gains of worker ownership. Photo by Bob Briggs.
By Jane Slaughter
April 3, 2013 -- Labor Notes -- A tyre is not just a piece of rubber with a hole in it. I learned this when I visited the workers’ cooperative that makes Cooper tyres in El Salto, Mexico. A tyre is a sophisticated product that comes about through a chain of chemical processes, lots of machine pounding, and still the intervention of human hands.
A fervent inspection worker pointed out that every single tyre is tested under road-like conditions, “If not, it could kill people”, he noted. And, he added practically, “keeping the tyres safe saves our jobs”.
Marta Harnecker: 'Chavez's legacy: with the people, building a socialist alternative to capitalism'
Thousands turn out in Caracas to remember Chavez.
By Marta Harnecker, translated by Yoshie Furuhashi for MRZine
March 6, 2013 -- La Segunda -- When Hugo Chávez triumphed in the 1998 presidential elections, the neoliberal capitalist model was already floundering. The choice then was whether to re-establish the neoliberal capitalist model -- clearly with some changes including greater concern for social issues, but still motivated by the same logic of profit seeking -- or to go ahead and try to build another model.
Grassroots interviews from Venezuela: Developing the power of the community
Ana Marin talks about her revolutionary activity.
Richard Seymour: Venezuela in the 21st century
With the announcement of Hugo Chavez’s reelection as preside
Marta Harnecker: Conquering a new popular hegemony
"In recent years, and in increasingly more countries, growing multitudes have rebe
Revolutionary democracy in the economy? Venezuela’s workers' control movement
The workers at Grafitos del Orinico are proud of their collectively run factory. Photo by Ewan Robertson.
Cuba's coming co-operative economy?
Havana billboard: “We are working – and you?”
By Marcelo Vieta
One million climate jobs now! The video
May 4, 2012 -- Links international Journal of Socialist Renewal -- The Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group is organising a Climate Jobs Caravan in England and Scotland in May 2012.
Based on the Million Climate Jobs report, produced with the assistance of Public and Commercial Services Union, the University and College Union, the Communication Workers Union and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, the caravan will highlight how creating climate jobs can help tackle the twin crises of the ecomony and climate change.
This inspiring video sets out the caravan’s message. The full 33-minute version, along with eight other videos about the struggle for justice, can be purchased on a DVD from Reel News.
Anniversary of the 1937 US sit-down strike wave: Remembering another Occupy movement
Sit-in strikers at General Motors' Fisher No. 1 plant.