WORKPLACE RESISTANCE GROUPS

by the Anarchist Federation (UK)

Whether unionized or non-unionized, the idea of resistance groups in your workplace may seem a long way from reality (especially in the current social climate), but this is a goal we need to be moving towards. Obviously, if such a thing is unrealistic where you work and would only quickly get you sacked then it would be silly to advocate it (unless you don’t mind getting sacked). For others though, it might seem a plausible possibility, especially if you have been involved in some ongoing dispute or there is a degree of anger and discontent.

Such groups must not seek to be alternative unions; they must be anti-capitalist, anti-company and act outside of the union’s structures and all political parties. They should advocate class war and practice direct action to achieve their objectives and have no respect for legality. Such groups have a propaganda function (pushing resistance and rebellion, slagging management, attacking union bureaucrats, advocating go-slows, non-cooperation, sabotage, unofficial action, mass sick days, etc.) and an active function (i.e. actually doing or trying to organize for what they advocate). They would have to be semi-secret (for obvious reasons).

Obviously, they shouldn’t be limited to revolutionaries or anarchists only; they are intended for angry people who basically want to fight management and the bosses by the most effective means. People don’t have to call themselves revolutionaries to be good class fighters and potential revolutionaries. The important thing is that such groups have no official dealings with the union (even though members might be in the union) and have no pretensions of becoming an alternative union. Their aims should be to hammer the company as effectively as possible (a bit like a “hit squad”) and link up with other similar groups (if or where they exist).

Such resistance groups may operate in a particular workplace or may be a national grouping of revolutionaries and rebels based around a particular industry or line of work.