There is a public opinion that Anarchists hate work; that we are terrorists, criminals, and that our ideas have nothing to offer to real life. But how many people know how Anarchists have directly changed our working conditions today? How many know how anarchists are improving workplace conditions today?

In 1919, a General Strike started by Anarchists forced the Spanish government to put into law the first 8-hour work day law in world history. If you prefer working 8 hours instead of 14, thank an Anarchist!

In the U.S. in 1917, the Anarchist-inspired IWW fought and died to win the 8-hour work day in the Pacific Northwest. Through government repression and corporate firing squads, the IWW was able to secure better working-conditions, the right to organize, and free speech for the fellow worker. They were instrumental in creating the 8-hour law in the United States -- and continued to fight for the 4-hour work day!

In the Russian Revolution of 1917, Anarchist influence created worker-owned shops and factories without bosses or managers. At a time when the Communists were attempting to take power from the people, Anarchists were creating worker's councils which would replace capitalism and the state. Anarchist unions actively fought against the Communist government.

Emiliano Zapata, the legendary Mexican Anarchist, put his anarchist ideals into practice with the slogan "Tierra y libertad!" (Land and Liberty!) He demanded land reform for the working peasants while eroding the rights of the greedy landlords.

In Chicago in 1886, Anarchists for the 8-hour work day were attacked by police at the end of a peaceful demonstration. A bomb was thrown from either side, and the following attacks led to deaths on both sides. In response, the police rounded up 8 Anarchist labor organizers without valid charges. 4 were hung, 1 killed himself, and the last 3 were set free by the mayor because the charges were so blatantly false. This event has made May 1st (May Day) so important internationally.

In Spain, 1936, the 1.5 million-member strong Anarchist union (the Confederacion National de Trabajadores) led a general strike against a fascist uprising. This led to three years of an Anarchist economy. Factories were controlled by the workers, money was abolished in some areas, and working conditions were improved. Spanish Anarchism was able to increase wages, lower working hours, distribute goods based on need, increase production, and still produce enough arms to fight the Italian-backed fascists. In 1939, the Spanish Communist Party (with the help of Stalinist Russia) attacked Anarchist shops and offices to take power for themselves. Had Anarchists been given more support and Stalin not supported the Communists, the Anarchist union could have changed the course of WWII.

During the Cuban revolution, Anarchists collectivized workplaces, created free schools, socialized sectors of the economy, and fought alongside other revolutionaries. At its height, the Cuban anarchist unions totaled 100,000 members. They were important in bringing revolutionary change to the Cuban economy. Later, leaders of the movement were executed or disported, while Anarchist unions and newspapers faced Communist government repression.

Argentina had 700,000 members in its Anarchist unions (the Federation Obrera Regional Argentina) at its height in the 1920's.

Under Soviet control, Hungary abandoned both its ideas about American Democracy and Soviet Communism in 1956. Instead of state-socialism, the workers in Hungary created workers councils in a very Anarchist way, and burned books written by Lenin in the streets. Food and other goods were distributed freely in the streets, which were barricaded by workers militias to prevent Soviet tanks from toppling the workers revolution.

Students went on strike in Paris in 1968, and were later joined by 10 million French workers. Thats roughly 2/3rds of the entire French workforce! Universities and shops were declared 'autonomous' (governed by themselves) and 401 "action committees" were created. The Communist Party withdrew its support, labeling the crowd as "Anarchists." Leftist trade unions tried to turn the attempted revolution into a shallow push for wage increases and better working conditions. The workers and students, of course, did not listen to either the Communists or the bureaucratic trade unions.
Since 1985, the Landless Workers Movement in Brazil has been securing land and dignity for people using anarchist-syndicalist organizational methods. It is currently made up of 1.5 million landless workers.

After the IMF had ruined the Venezuelan economy, 200 factories were taken over by workers in 2001 after the owners abandoned them. Rather than leave their workplaces, the workers took control and apply workers self-management. In 2005, the number of workers in these kinds of shops was 15,000 people. Shop occupation is a tactic pushed primarily by anarchists and used by regular workers.

...and that is just part of anarchist contributions to labor history. We have struggled, fought, and died to secure dignity and descent standards of living. Anarchist organizations have existed in every country in the world -- from China to Australia to Colombia. What does anarchism offer to people working today in Waukegan and the rest of the United States?

Direct Action. Anarchists support "direct" action over political action. Instead of asking for or appealing to politicians, Anarchists believe that we need to take them immediately. Political reform can only give us small concessions while leaving the largest aspect, wage slavery, intact. Reform is like trying to clear a 10 ft gap with 1 ft jumps.

Solidarity. Anarchists believe that solidarity, the unity amongst workers and people, is the key to winning labor disputes and for constructing a new society. With solidarity, workers from all trades support each other in strikes and occupations. With solidarity, workers in the United States can help the workers in Mexico, Russia, and other countries around the world.

Anti-hierarchy. We are against the so-called unions in the United States today. These organizations are run like businesses instead of worker organizations. They often work with managers and hinder our demands. Anarchist unions have typically been horizontal, have had little to no union dues, and work along revolutionary ideas. Can we work without union bosses and managers? Not only can we, but we've been doing it for hundreds of years.

Against capitalism. Anarchism has had an impact in the anti-globalization movement. Anarchists are not against globalization; the free movement of people and ideas is an incredible thing. However, the "free trade" which has been passed off as globalization is the rich leeching off of the poor. We have seen this in the exploitation of poor countries, sweat shops, child labor, polluted environments, lethal union-busting, and deadly workplaces. We have seen this when car factories are sent to Mexico, when customer support is moved overseas, or when economic refugees from Mexico lower wages for American workers. Anarchists see capitalism as the driving force behind all of this; there can be no fundamental changes in society as long as it is around.

Anarchism is not an idea founded on terrorism. It is not thuggish, brutish, or simplistic. It has, and always will be, a workers movement. It does not come from bomb-making manuals or little red books. It was born out of the struggle for workers rights; it is a natural, organic movement which has the power to create a just and equal society.