Labor donated

The International Communist Current (ICC) is a Left Communist or ultraleftist organization. Its political positions are similar to those of the ex-Bordigist "Left Faction of the PCI" in France during the 1930's. Indeed, the ICC was formed in 1975 by an old militant who had participated in this group, one Marc Chirik or MC. While having groups of supporters in a dozen countries around the globe, the ICC is an insignificant force even on the far left. They are simply too sectarian and theoretical to be of much interest, and seem to have spent most of the 1990's tearing themselves apart in factional struggles against "clans" (whatever that is). A slight paranoia featuring Freemasons is another trait of this rather odd group.

"Unions against the working class" is a pamphlet detailing the ICC's ultraleft rejection of trade and labour unions. The ICC does believe that unions played a certain progressive role during the "ascendant" phase of capitalism (the 19th century), when real reforms could still be wrested from the bourgeoisie by the proletariat. However, since 1914 capitalism has entered its "decadent" phase, when reforms are no longer possible. This means that *all* unions are reactionary, capitalist and part of the bourgeois state apparatus. Nor can unions be captured by revolutionaries or reformed by rank-and-file movements. Thus, the ICC rejects not only the moderate leaderships of most unions, but also the attempts by Trotskyists and other leftists to work inside the unions as a radical opposition. Attempts by even more radical leftists to set up dual unions or invent entirely new forms of shop floor organizations such as "base committees" are also rejected. All permanent, defensive workers' organizations will inevitably become part of the oppressive structures of capitalism.

During the epoch of capitalist decadence, the only solution is an immediate socialist revolution. It can only come about by industrial workers staging unofficial strikes outside the control of the unions and their leftist hangers-on. The strikes must be spread or "generalized". Eventually, a mass strike will confront the system and topple it, presumably by the striking workers taking armed action, creating a revolutionary power based on workers' councils or soviets (as in Russia in 1905 and 1917).

But what if the strikes don't spread, the strike waves subside and workers return to their jobs, perhaps happy to have gotten a new union contract? In such a situation, it seems that revolutionaries can't do anything at all, except biding their time until the next wildcat. The ICC believes that the most militant workers can form discussion groups to discuss their experiences and keep the flame alive, but this is all. Presumably, the ICC hope to be able to influence the discussions in such "workers' groups" and recruit them to its ranks.

I think it's obvious to anyone that nothing can be accomplished with this rigid, narrow and sectarian program. Indeed, Lenin criticized the original Left Communists already in 1920 in his work "Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder". The Bolshevik leader, of course, called on Communists to enter the unions, participate in elections, form united fronts with Social Democrats when possible, etc. In a famous quotation, Lenin even said that Communists should use all means of subterfuge at their disposal in order to enter the "reactionary" unions and remain there! I'm not a big fan of V.I. Ulyanov, but I'd say he was a smarter strategist than Marc Chirik and the ICC...

Naturally, "Unions against the working class" comes without a union bug!