About – Abahlali baseMjondolo

Unions Without Strikes

You can spend a lifetime studying the rich history of the labor movement. While you are doing that, new union battles and campaigns will constantly arise. Laws will change, the economy will change, industries will rise and fall. New technologies will challenge workers in previously unimagined ways. Yet the fact remains that the more you study all of the complexities of the past, present, and future, you are left with one central truth: The power of organized labor is the power of the strike. Without the strike, the labor movement’s claim to power falls apart.

Stop the Victorian public sector job cuts!

We’ve been covering the recent Victorian Government’s announcement in relation to the slashing of 3000 jobs across the Victorian public service. And we’ve been covering a rank n file caucus of workers in the Victorian Public Service, that is fighting to take back their union.

Contest: Songs and Chants for the Strike Line

Music has special power to raise our morale in times of fear and grief. In the Pittsburgh Labor Choir we’ve learned that songs have their greatest power when everyone is participating, not just listening. When the crowd takes the responsibility for chanting, or the whole assembly sings together, we feel our collective power. We may still be grieving and scared, but we’re also filled with hope. From rhythm, to morale, to endurance—to victory. What makes a chant or song good for large-group participation? Making it consistent and predictable makes it easy for people to join in.