Radical Reading Group - union organizing

Radical reading group - February

Offline, Lichtenrader Str. 49

We are a sporadic reading group, open to all, meeting to discuss texts we find interesting. This time we are reading Jane McAlevey's 'No Shortcuts'. Please read the first chapter from p.19 to at least the middle of p.29 or until the end of the introduction. If you don't have time, don't worry - there'll be a summary at the beginning of the evening. 

To respect everyone's time, we will talk for max 1.5hrs. If people want to stay and chat afterwards, we have the space for longer :)

For discussion, we will use questions from the Democratic Socialists of America:

I. What is power structure analysis, and how do theories of power differ for liberals,
progressives, and leftists (including democratic socialists)? (2-6)
II. McAlevy says on page 20 that “unions still successfully engaging in mass strikes – not simply
protests borrowing the name ‘strike’ – are concrete proof of highly successful methods that can
challenge the root of all inequality: the inequality of power in society.” Why does she
differentiate between “mass strikes” and “protests”?
III. What does McAlevey mean on page 6 when she says that people need to “go from object to
subject”?
IV. What are organic leaders? (13)
V. On the very first page of the book, McAlevey emphasizes the point that the labor movement
is a social movement. Why is this point important and what does it mean for DSA in
relationship to labor unions?
VI. Is there anything else in this chapter that you found intriguing and want to discuss?

see you then!