Workers Solidarity Alliance
Encyclopedia
Workers Solidarity Alliance (WSA) is a United States
political activist group whose politics are rooted in anarcho-syndicalism
and class struggle. WSA is not a trade union
or proto-union.
Workers Solidarity Alliance (WSA) was created out of a pre-existing network,
including the Libertarian Workers' Group
, in 1984. The journal Ideas and Action
, which had begun publishing in 1982, was published by WSA from 1984 to 1997. Following the slogan
of Flora Tristan
, that "the emancipation of the working class
is the work of the workers themselves", WSA believes that the working class needs to create its own mass organizations that it directly controls in order to have a movement that can liberate the working class from subordination to dominating classes.
WSA thus advocates the development of self-managed solidarity unionism, through either reform of existing unions or creation of new self-managed mass organizations in workplace struggles. WSA also advocates the development of self-managed mass organizations in struggles that arise outside the workplace. WSA holds that struggles against gender inequality
, structural racism
, and oppression of gay people are also part of the larger fight for social liberation and self-management.
WSA believes that both Capitalism
and State socialism
are based on the subjugation and exploitation
of the working class. Workers' liberation would require that the working class gain control of the industries where it works, dismantling the top-down corporate
hierarchies
, but also requires the creation of new institutions of popular power, based in participatory democracy
of assemblies in neighborhoods and workplaces, dismantling the top-down hierarchies of the state, so that the mass of the people gain control over public
affairs.
The WSA was formerly an affiliate of the International Workers Association
(IWA) and continues to be in solidarity with the Aims and Principles of the IWA.
On May 1, 2010 the WSA relaunched its Ideas & Action journal in webzine format.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political activist group whose politics are rooted in anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. The word syndicalism comes from the French word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek word σύνδικος which means caretaker of an issue...
and class struggle. WSA is not a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
or proto-union.
Workers Solidarity Alliance (WSA) was created out of a pre-existing network,
including the Libertarian Workers' Group
Libertarian Workers' Group
The Libertarian Workers Group was a United States New York City-based anarcho-syndicalist affinity group which was a member of the US Anarchist Communist Federation . The Libertarian Workers Group left the ACF in 1981, as did other affinity groups in Milwaukee, Toronto, Montreal among others.The...
, in 1984. The journal Ideas and Action
Ideas and Action
Ideas and Action is an anarcho-syndicalist journal that was founded in 1981 as a result of numerous conferences organized by the New York Metropolitan area Libertarian Workers' Group and the Syndicalist Alliance of Milwaukee...
, which had begun publishing in 1982, was published by WSA from 1984 to 1997. Following the slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
of Flora Tristan
Flora Tristan
Flora Tristan was a socialist writer and activist. She was also one of the founders of modern feminism...
, that "the emancipation of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
is the work of the workers themselves", WSA believes that the working class needs to create its own mass organizations that it directly controls in order to have a movement that can liberate the working class from subordination to dominating classes.
WSA thus advocates the development of self-managed solidarity unionism, through either reform of existing unions or creation of new self-managed mass organizations in workplace struggles. WSA also advocates the development of self-managed mass organizations in struggles that arise outside the workplace. WSA holds that struggles against gender inequality
Income disparity
The gender pay gap is the difference between male and female earnings expressed as a percentage of male earnings, according to the OECD. The European Commission defines it as the average difference between men’s and women’s hourly earnings...
, structural racism
Institutional racism
Institutional racism describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations , and universities . The term was coined by Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s...
, and oppression of gay people are also part of the larger fight for social liberation and self-management.
WSA believes that both Capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and State socialism
State socialism
State socialism is an economic system with limited socialist characteristics, such as public ownership of major industries, remedial measures to benefit the working class, and a gradual process of developing socialism through government policy...
are based on the subjugation and exploitation
Exploitation
This article discusses the term exploitation in the meaning of using something in an unjust or cruel manner.- As unjust benefit :In political economy, economics, and sociology, exploitation involves a persistent social relationship in which certain persons are being mistreated or unfairly used for...
of the working class. Workers' liberation would require that the working class gain control of the industries where it works, dismantling the top-down corporate
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
hierarchies
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
, but also requires the creation of new institutions of popular power, based in participatory democracy
Participatory democracy
Participatory Democracy, also known as Deliberative Democracy, Direct Democracy and Real Democracy , is a process where political decisions are made directly by regular people...
of assemblies in neighborhoods and workplaces, dismantling the top-down hierarchies of the state, so that the mass of the people gain control over public
affairs.
The WSA was formerly an affiliate of the International Workers Association
International Workers Association
The International Workers' Association is an international federation of anarcho-syndicalist labour unions and initiatives based primarily in Europe and Latin America....
(IWA) and continues to be in solidarity with the Aims and Principles of the IWA.
On May 1, 2010 the WSA relaunched its Ideas & Action journal in webzine format.