by Ram ben Ze'ev
The labor movement in the United States, epitomized by the rise of unions, has long been a battleground of competing ideologies. The founding of unions represents an opportunity for fundamental transformation from a Communist perspective—not only of labor conditions but of the very fabric of American society. Unions, in their essence, are vehicles for collective action, embodying the struggle between labor and capital, and from a Marxist viewpoint, they have historically been seen as a critical means to empower the working class and challenge the capitalist system.
Labor unions are a natural outgrowth of class struggle. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, in their seminal works, argued that history is defined by the conflict between the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class). According to Marxist theory, unions are a form of organized resistance by the proletariat against the exploitative forces of capitalism. Though early unions primarily fought for better wages, working conditions, and shorter hours, Communists saw their potential to evolve into instruments of revolutionary change.
In the early 20th century, as industrialization intensified in the United States, workers faced harsh conditions, low wages, and little job security. Unions formed as a response to these inequities, and many Communists and socialist thinkers recognized unions as a critical space to galvanize the working class and advance their broader agenda: the overthrow of the capitalist system.
To Communists, the formation of unions wasn’t simply about economic improvements but about creating the conditions for workers to realize their collective power. American Communists in the early 20th century were active in the labor movement and saw unions as vital to organizing workers on a mass scale. By increasing class consciousness, they believed unions could pave the way for a political revolution in which the working class would take control of the means of production.
The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) played an active role in organizing labor in industries such as steel, textiles, and automotive manufacturing. They believed that unions, with their ability to mobilize workers, could serve as a nucleus for a broader revolutionary movement. The CPUSA sought to align union struggles with their Marxist agenda, advocating not only for better wages but also for fundamental changes to ownership structures and the distribution of wealth.
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One of the most significant examples of unions that embraced this revolutionary potential was the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies. Founded in 1905, the IWW rejected the idea of incremental reforms and instead sought to unite all workers, regardless of skill, gender, or race, in the fight for a classless society. The IWW believed that traditional unions that negotiated for better working conditions without challenging the capitalist system were ultimately limited in their effectiveness.
The IWW embodied the spirit of a union that sought not only workplace reforms but a complete transformation of American society. Their famous slogan, "an injury to one is an injury to all," reflected their belief in solidarity and the interconnectedness of workers' struggles. By uniting the working class, the IWW believed that they could eventually seize control of industry and replace capitalism with a system of worker self-management—essentially an anarcho-syndicalist or Communist goal.
The Great Depression of the 1930s provided fertile ground for Communist ideas to take root in the labor movement. As millions of Americans faced unemployment, wage cuts, and dire poverty, the failures of the capitalist system became apparent to many. During this period, Communist-affiliated unions, such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), gained significant traction. The CIO advocated for the organization of industrial workers and embraced more radical tactics, such as sit-down strikes, to win concessions from employers.
Communists within the labor movement sought not only to improve conditions for workers but also to build support for a broader revolutionary agenda. They saw unions as a means of fostering class consciousness and believed that as workers became more aware of their collective power, they would begin to question the legitimacy of the capitalist system itself. The goal was to move beyond economic gains and toward political power, with the eventual aim of establishing a worker-controlled economy and state.
The influence of Communists in the labor movement reached new heights in the 1930s and 1940s, but it also sparked a backlash. The post-World War II period saw the rise of the Red Scare, a concerted effort by the U.S. government and corporate interests to root out Communist influence from unions and other institutions. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which required union leaders to sign affidavits swearing they were not Communists, was part of a broader effort to neutralize the radical elements of the labor movement.
Despite the attempts at suppressing the Communists' influence, the fundamental idea that unions could serve as a means of revolutionary change persisted. Even as mainstream unions publicly distanced themselves from Communism, the notion that unions could challenge the capitalist system and fight for a more just and equitable society remained alive in radical circles.
The founding and growth of unions in America were never just about incremental improvements in labor conditions. Rather, unions were seen as a vehicle for the working class to assert its power, challenge the dominance of capital, and ultimately transform society. The early involvement of Communists in the labor movement reflected a broader ambition to use unions as a means to educate workers, build solidarity, and lay the groundwork for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism.
Though the direct influence of Communism in American unions appears to have diminished over time, the foundational idea—that workers, united through collective action, have the potential to fundamentally reshape society—remains a powerful and enduring legacy of the labor movement. For many on the left, the struggle for workers' rights is inextricably linked to the broader fight for social and economic justice, and unions remain a vital force for challenging the inequalities inherent in the capitalist system.
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue