>Bill Bartlett wrote:
>"What the ruling class really fear is that the poor will refuse to work, for
>low wages, will refuse to consume, will refuse to obey orders."
>***
>
>Someone has been reading too much Negri.
Never read any Negri actually. Though I vaguely recall that this is supposed to be a point that writer makes. That doesn't prompt me to read him though, it just seems so obvious that I wonder how it is worth writing a book about it.
Chris, I was a worker in the 70's, that was what it was like. I remember many times being chastised by the foreman at different workplaces for overwork. I remember being warned that certain efficient work practices were unacceptable to the union. I don't know, perhaps you are too young, perhaps you never had the opportunity to work at that level. It was all-pervasive then, minimum work effort, minimum work attendance.
It was a time when the working class felt as if we were top dogs and we expected the boss to bow and scrape to us and show gratitude if we deigned to turn up at work at all. We didn't care if we got the sack, except perhaps as a matter of principle. No, not even that much. There were plenty of other jobs and if we were unemployed for awhile that didn't mater either, in fact it was preferable, we weren't worried about where our next meal was coming from, if we woke up one day and there was no food in the house and no money in our pocket, we might idle along to the job centre for a day's work to get some more money. Or maybe not, maybe we'd go to the beach instead.
And when we applied for a job, the employer would be so grateful it was pitiful. He had no bargaining power at all.
Maybe you are too young, I guess the young can't really believe it. Like that cop said the other day, times have changed.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas