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Trade unions and strikes cannot help in times of crisis when there is no demand for this 'commodity', they cannot change the conditions which, convert labour-power into a commodity and which doom the masses of working people to dire need and unemployment. To change these conditions, a revolutionary struggle against the whole existing social and political system is necessary; the industrial crisis will convince very many workers of the justice of this statement.

Vladimir Lenin#44

EconomicsRevolutionWorkCrisis

About this quote

What does it mean?
During crises, trade unions and strikes cannot solve the fundamental problem that labor is treated as a commodity; a revolutionary overhaul of the whole system is required.
In plain terms
Unions can’t fix the commodity nature of labor; a full revolution is needed.
What can you take from it?
Systemic change, not just labor actions, is required to end exploitation.

Where it applies

  • union strategy
  • economic downturns
  • political activism

Putting it to work

  • build broader revolutionary coalitions
  • educate workers on systemic issues

Questions to consider

  • What incremental steps can improve workers’ conditions?
  • How can unions adapt to systemic constraints?

Another view

Revolutionary overhaul may be unrealistic in many contexts.

More from Vladimir Lenin

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