Punching Out & Other Writings

by Martin Glaberman

A generous anthology of the writings of Marty Glaberman. "Glaberman is the most important writer on labor matters in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. He developed distinctive concepts concerning the nature of trade unionism; the unfolding of working-class consciousness; and the forms of revolutionary organization appropriate to modern industrial society..." [from the Introduction by Staughton Lynd]. Dropping out of masters degree in Economics at Columbia University, he spent 20 years laboring for wages in plants in and around Detroit as an assembly line worker and machinist....and organizer. On the eve of the second world war, he associated himself with the West Indian Marxist intellectual CLR James, and never looked back. "Autoworker, historian, humorist, sociologist, poet, and baseball coach, Marty Glaberman had as close a knowledge of working people as any intellectual of his generation. He also had, as these wonderful collected writings show, the most firm confidence in their revolutionary potential." [David Roediger]

Genres: Labor, Politics

Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Juan Conatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection. Glaberman was a worker-intellectual that described how the UAW and CIO became institutionalized, and the process became obstacles for a fighting working class. Also, his description of work life resonates even today.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and, from the perspective of today, sad, description/polemic/call to arms on labor organizing. Radical labor organizer in the mid 1950s talking about the heyday of the worker-led sit down and confrontational strikes of the late 1930s. A polemic against union bureaucracy. Direct and moving account.