cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/historymemes@piefed.social/p/2182504/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-the-direct-approach
cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/historymemes@piefed.social/p/2182504/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-the-direct-approach
The sheer scale of globalized business means this is largely a non-issue for the company. You burn down their factory in New Jersey, there’s 10 other factories in other countries they can lean on to make up the shortfall. The owner likely hasn’t ever been physically in the factory (possibly even the country itself), so you can’t do the old Wobbly “how about you sign this contract or Mr Pistol gets angry”. Even if you manage that, the executive board will have a new CEO by the end of the month, and a flock of lawyers will find every way to tear that contract to shreds, or they’ll simply shut down your plant (if you’re in the US or a Western nation) or hire death squads to murder you and your union organizing friends (if you aren’t).
What the fuck is this. You burn down the factory in your country and it is now closed off and cannot produce for a considerable length of time. This definitely hurts even a globalized business. Learned helplessness through and through. You have power. You can effect change in a myriad of ways, lawful or not. Don’t assume Goliath has won from his size alone.