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Labor's Last Best Weapon: The Case for Strikes

Enrique Blair

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The Rise of the Working-Class Shareholder: Labor’s Last Best Weapon

by David Webber

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1144 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	342 pages

In Labor's Last Best Weapon, historian and labor activist Steven Ashby argues that strikes are not only a necessary tool for workers to improve their lives, but also a powerful force for social change. Ashby draws on a wealth of historical evidence to show how strikes have played a central role in winning everything from the eight-hour day to the minimum wage.

Ashby begins by examining the history of strikes in the United States. He shows how strikes have been used by workers to fight for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. He also shows how strikes have been used to challenge social and political inequality. For example, the Pullman Strike of 1894 was not only a struggle for better wages and working conditions, but also a protest against the company town system that gave the Pullman Company almost complete control over the lives of its workers.

Ashby then goes on to discuss the different types of strikes and the strategies that workers have used to make them successful. He also discusses the challenges that workers face when they go on strike, including the risk of losing their jobs or being replaced by scabs. Despite these challenges, Ashby argues that strikes remain a powerful tool for workers to improve their lives.

In the final chapter of the book, Ashby calls for a new wave of strikes to address the growing inequality in the United States. He argues that strikes are not only a way to win economic gains, but also a way to build solidarity and power among workers. He concludes by saying, "Strikes are not just a last resort. They are our best weapon for building a better future for all."

Reviews

"Labor's Last Best Weapon is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of labor in the United States. Ashby's book is a powerful reminder of the importance of strikes and the role they have played in shaping our society." —Eric Foner, author of Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877

"A timely and important book. Ashby makes a compelling case for the power of strikes to improve the lives of workers and to promote social change." —Kim Moody, author of On New Terrain: Labor's Struggle in the 21st Century

"Essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of labor in the United States. Ashby's book is a powerful call to action for a new wave of strikes." —Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

About the Author

Steven Ashby is a historian and labor activist. He is the author of several books on labor history, including The Making of the Working Class in the United States and Organized Labor and the Black Worker. Ashby is also a member of the Labor Notes board of directors.