LABR 3P13 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Collective Action, Labour Candidates And Parties In Canada, Samuel Gompers

• School: Brock University
• Department: Labour Studies
• Course: LABR 3P13
• Professor: Murry Cooke

Document Summary

Need to weaken trade union rights to increase profitability. Labour movement was unprepared for this and did not have capacity to fight back against business. Unions lose old methods of militancy and dramatic action. Advancing broader social and economic change for workers/working class as whole. Along with engels studied capitalism and creation of working class. Working class and capitalists have different interests. Working class wants to over throw capitalists. Actual goal school be to overthrow this whole system. Working class consciousness would increase in trade unions. Socialist party becomes central to lead working class to revolutionary action. Trade unions were too focused on economic issues. Saw particular role for trade union in militant action. Advocate for mass general trike as strong tool for political change for working class movement. May start as economic issues but turn into political protest. Workers through strike activity and direct action can achieve political or revolutionary change.