Union Versus Menegement

Joseph Edwards

Published by Abeng, [np], 1971

Presumed to be the inaugural publication of the Trinidadian labor organizing group, The New Beginning Movement (NBM) (1971-1978), printed by the group as Abeng Pamphlet No. 1. The NBM was primarily inspired by the Black Power Revolt and legacy of C.LR. James, applying his ideas on workers autonomy and self-management to create a Pan-Caribbean International with linkages extending to Canada, United States and Great Britain which were seeing a growing Caribbean workers population as well in the early 1970s. Formed with the intention of creating alternative forms and practices of governance during a declared "state of emergency" by the Eric Williams government, the NBM was still a rudimentary coordinating council aimed at drawing large assemblies acting as a needed news service. The text of this booklet was sourced from a talk given to a seminar of workers by Joseph Edwards. The urgency of his critique is rooted in Rastafarian ideal of the 'MAN' and the 'MEN' being a degenerate human hence the imposed catch-22 of the title. He outlines for the workers that organization in the name of unions has the potential to be an extension of political control. He outlines and anticipates pitfalls that would hinder the taking of power, power withheld for centuries of colonization in the Caribbean. He invokes the name of revolutionary Paul Bogle to inspire the necessary revolt in the workers movement he sees as growing potentially stagnant for the sake of unionization that is just as repressive as menegement. The booklet outlines a formed plan of resistance inspired by the fomenting Pan-Caribbean revoltionary Black Power Movement designed for a population of workers that was already rethinking party politics in the context of their daily lives. Errata slip slid in between wraps and text block, between staple-binding. (Quest, 10.5840/clrjames2017111642 : 267-305) . Very good condition, lightest wear present Saddle-stapled, octavo, illustrated wraps, [i] [1] 2-34 [35]. Seller Inventory # 2500

Bibliographic Details

Title: Union Versus Menegement
Publisher: Abeng, [np]
Publication Date: 1971
Binding: Soft cover