Issue 20: Struggling to Work

In this issue of Notes from Below, we return to the mainstay of our publication: worker writing. This issue aimed to return our focus to workers’ inquiries, particularly with forms of work necessary for social reproduction. Workers write here about their experiences at work and their organising as care and support workers, energy workers, clinical support workers, school workers, and Palestinian workers.

We argue that communist politics today is not solely about organising around the workplace, but also about fighting oppression wherever it manifests. Nonetheless, the workplace remains a key site through which class is formed, experiences oppression, and is able to exercise its collective power. In this issue then, using the experiences of these workers’ inquiries, we have taken a brief step back to consider the political openings and opportunities that could emerge from our current situation.