UC Davis

Labor scholars and union activists have long argued that the revitalization of the USlabor movement depends on the success of rank-and-file members transforming their unions into more democratic organizations that can properly channel and support militancy. The dominance of the bureaucratic business unionism model has been derided for its inability to successfully wage class struggle, and it has been noted at times that entrenched union bureaucrats can be just as repressive as management or the state. However, there has previously never been a systematic study of how this repression occurs. Using interviews and historical data such as newspaper articles, blogposts, books and scholarly articles three case studies are examined: the establishment and transformation of UAW 2865 over two decades, the 2019-2020 COLA wildcat strike starting at UC Santa Cruz, and the 2013 MAP test boycott (wildcat partial strike). Three mechanisms of repression are identified: containment, demobilization, and credit stealing. Containment is a preventive barrier established between dissident rank-and-file members and other members that blocks the former’s influence over the latter. Demobilization are those actions which shut down dissident or autonomous organizing or actions. Credit stealing is assigning credit for work done by others or asserting oneself as the leader or rightful representative of a movement that one did not support or participate in.