Morning Comrades.
For everyone outside of the U.S. this coming weekend has all the obvious hallmarks: It is May Day, International Day of Labour, a weekend full of celebration, protest, guaranteed run ins with the cops, a bank holiday weekend full of joy and solidarity. With that, today’s dispatch is also going to be a little different, in the sense that this one is for everyone and that the usual 2nd patreon-only newsletter will come at a later stage, potentially Monday, but all that depends on how hard the cops will want to act this weekend.
Initially, I had almost started this newsletter with the idea of “I have always been lucky with the work that I have done for these past 30 years” but then thought differently. More accurately, “I have always understood that what I want to do for work will result in a life of precarity and I will work around that” - and that is the tone that will lead us all into this weekend. A conversation of obviousness, that work sucks, but also utopianism, what work could be. Plans and Dreams, Comrades, they’ll help along the way.
There is a wonderful reading list about work, labour, what it is what it shouldn’t be and what it can be that I would like to recommend to you here. Truly, considering how dominant the idea of “work” is in our reality, these books are all absolute gems to help you, us, imagine a new relationship with work. Get it here. I will get into this reading list towards the end of this essay.
Let’s, however, start this dreadful topic with the big comrades had to say about work - something I genuinely co-sign.
Marx & The Benefits of Work
Marxism sees work as an essential part of human life and social existence. According to Marxism, work has several benefits for individuals and society as a whole. Here are some of the benefits of work according to Marxism:
Creativity and self-expression: Marxism sees work as a way for individuals to express themselves and develop their creative potential. When workers have control over their work and are able to use their skills and abilities to create something meaningful, they experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Social cooperation: Work also provides a basis for social cooperation and solidarity. In Marxist theory, work is not just an individual activity, but a social one. Workers cooperate with each other to produce goods and services, and this cooperation forms the basis for social relationships and community.
Contribution to society: Marxism emphasizes the importance of work in contributing to the well-being of society as a whole. In a socialist or communist society, work is not just about making profits for capitalists, but about meeting the needs of the community. When workers see the positive impact that their work has on society, they feel a sense of pride and purpose.
Personal development: Marxism sees work as a way for individuals to develop their skills and abilities. When workers have access to education and training, they are able to improve their skills and increase their productivity. This can lead to greater job satisfaction and career advancement.
Material well-being: Finally, Marxism recognizes that work is necessary for meeting basic material needs. In a capitalist society, workers sell their labor in order to earn a wage that allows them to survive. In a socialist or communist society, work would still be necessary to produce the goods and services that people need, but it would be organized in a way that is more equitable and just.
The Critique of Work According to Marx under Capitalism
According to Karl Marx, work under capitalism is dreadful for several reasons. Here are some of the main reasons:
Alienation: Marx argued that capitalism alienates workers from the products of their labor, from the process of production, from their fellow workers, and from themselves. Workers are forced to perform repetitive and monotonous tasks that do not allow for any creativity or personal expression, and the end products of their labor are sold on the market for profit, rather than being used for their own needs or those of their communities. As a result, workers feel disconnected from their work and from their own humanity.
Exploitation: Under capitalism, workers are paid only a fraction of the value that they produce through their labor. The surplus value created by workers is appropriated by the capitalist class, who profit from the labor of the workers. This creates an unequal distribution of wealth and power, where the capitalist class is able to accumulate wealth and control over the means of production at the expense of the workers.
Competition: Capitalism is based on competition, where companies compete with each other to maximize profits. This creates a race to the bottom, where companies cut costs by reducing wages, benefits, and job security. Workers are forced to compete with each other for jobs, and are often pitted against each other in a zero-sum game where one worker's gain is another worker's loss. This creates a hostile and stressful work environment.
Overwork: Under capitalism, workers are often forced to work long hours, sometimes without breaks or adequate compensation. This leads to physical and mental exhaustion, and can have negative effects on workers' health and well-being.
Lack of control: Under capitalism, workers have little control over their own work. They are subject to the whims of their employers, who have the power to hire, fire, and set the terms and conditions of employment. Workers have little say in the decisions that affect their work and their lives, and are often treated as mere cogs in the machine of capitalist production.
The Scientific Utopian Discourse according to Marx
Karl Marx envisioned a society where there is no exploitation and oppression of the working class, which he believed was inherent in capitalism. He believed that this could be achieved through the establishment of a communist society, where the means of production are owned and controlled by the workers themselves. In this society, Marx argued that work would be radically transformed in several ways.
Firstly, Marx argued that under communism, work would no longer be a means of survival or a way to earn a living, but rather a way for individuals to express themselves and contribute to the betterment of society. In his view, people would work for the sake of working, and not simply to earn wages to survive.
Secondly, Marx believed that work under communism would be completely voluntary, with no coercion or exploitation by a ruling class or elite. This means that people would have the freedom to choose the type of work they want to do and the hours they want to work, without any external pressure or compulsion.
Thirdly, Marx argued that under communism, work would be organized in such a way as to eliminate the alienation that he believed was inherent in capitalist work. This means that workers would have control over the production process, and would be able to see the end result of their work, rather than simply performing repetitive and dehumanizing tasks.
Finally, Marx believed that under communism, work would be organized in a way that would allow for the development of the full potential of each individual. This means that workers would have access to education and training that would allow them to develop their skills and abilities, and would be able to work in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to them.
The Discourse & The Reading List
The idea of having a "dream job" has become a ubiquitous concept ( please read this in the most genuine exploited levels of sarcasm ) in our modern society, where we are constantly bombarded with messages that we should strive to find the perfect career that will make us happy and fulfilled. However, not everyone subscribes to this notion. There are no “dream jobs”, and most of us reject the idea of having one altogether.
The Verso Book reading list is an excellent resource for those who are interested in exploring different perspectives on work and labor. The list includes a wide range of books written by authors from various backgrounds and disciplines, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the subject. A few examples to get you interested:
"Work is a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying." - Studs Terkel, "Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do"
Studs Terkel's quote highlights the idea that work is not just about making money or fulfilling a job description. It is also about finding meaning and purpose in our daily lives. However, not everyone is lucky enough to find this kind of fulfillment in their work. Some people may feel trapped in a job that does not allow them to explore their interests and passions.
"I think a lot of people with high ideals and aspirations are quite disillusioned by the kind of work that's available to them." - Barbara Ehrenreich, "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America"
Barbara Ehrenreich's quote speaks to the frustration and disappointment that many people feel when they realize that the job market does not offer the kind of fulfilling work that they had hoped for. This can be especially true for those who have high aspirations and want to make a difference in the world.
"The idea of work is to create something that didn't exist before." - Richard Sennett, "The Craftsman"
Richard Sennett's quote emphasizes the creative aspect of work. For many people, work is an opportunity to express their creativity and bring something new into the world. However, this can also be a source of frustration when people feel that their creativity is stifled by their job.
"When the only thing left is to make a living, work no longer offers the means of self-expression and personal development that it once did." - Zygmunt Bauman, "Work, Consumerism and the New Poor"
Zygmunt Bauman's quote speaks to the fact that work is not just about earning a living. It is also about personal growth and development. However, when people are forced to take on jobs that do not allow them to express themselves or develop their skills, work can become a source of frustration and despair.
"What matters is not what work does to us but what we do with our work." - Dorothy L. Sayers, "Creed or Chaos?"
Dorothy L. Sayers' quote highlights the fact that we have agency in how we approach our work. While some jobs may be more fulfilling than others, we have the power to find meaning and purpose in any job if we choose to approach it with the right mindset.
Again, you can find the full reading list here.
Most importantly, I did not want to bore you with yet another historical take on this upcoming day. I have done that before, and you can read last years history lesson here:
The point is to know the history, be aware of the giant shoulders we stand upon and take their revolutionary curiosity and willingness to do what is necessary into our times and make it ours. Work is what it is, we all need it, need to do it but we desperately and radically have to re-imagine how we value it.
I might see you back here on Monday, again, depending on how fruity the cops will get, but latest on Tuesday. Have a revolutionary weekend my dearest of comrades,
Yours, raging into the weekend and hopefully seeing you on the barricades.
Steven.
Sharing your newsletter with my 18 years old son. 🫶