#+title: the role of trade unions in the transition to socialism
- tags :: [[file:20210204224215-trade_unions.org][trade unions]] [[file:20200716124833-labor.org][labor]] [[file:20201111222005-capital.org][capital]] [[file:capitalism.org][capitalism]] [[file:20210204095739-socialism.org][socialism]]

* Unions as the bodies that will bring about socialism
There are those (such as [[file:20210228142145-syndicalism.org][syndicalists]]) who believe that trade unions are at the
forefront of revolutionary activity, and that because unions are closest to the
labor process, unions are the ones who can bring about not just improvement for
working conditions but revolutionary change as well.

Arguably, the [[file:20200707205517-soviet_workers_council.org][soviets]] were one such example: organizations that worked with
unions and persisted after the revolution, albeit neutered.
* Unions as organizations within capitalism
Likewise, there are those who say that unions will only exist in capitalism, and
that at best all unions can do is improve working conditions. There may be some
truth to this, but I believe that it's too dismissive of the role of unions.