Nothing to Lose But Our Chains - Work and Resistance in Twenty-First-Century Britain

Capitalism is a dynamic system, continually adapting itself to exploit workers in new ways. In Britain today, the gig economy is its newest form, expressed through precarious contracts and the supposed atomisation of workers. In this book, Jane Hardy argues that despite capitalisms best efforts to stop us, we can always find ways to fight it.Through a range of case studies, from cleaners to university lecturers, Hardy looks at how workers are challenging employers assaults in the neoliberal workplace, comparing these new actions to a long history of British working class struggle. She explores the historic role of migrants in the British workforce, from the Windrush generation to more recent arrivals from the European Union, as well as placing womens collective action centre stage. Analysing the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence, she refutes claims that we are entering a post-capitalist society.Nothing to Lose but our Chains is an optimistic exploration into the power of the working class, showing that no matter what tools capitalism uses, it can always be resisted.

List of contents

1. Changing Terrains of Work and Struggle2. Neoliberal Britain3. Narratives and Numbers of British Capitalism4. New Icons of Work? The Gig Economy and Precarious Labour5. Explosive Struggles and Bitter Defeats6. Opening the Black Box of Trade Unions7. Striking Women: Still Hidden from History8. Migrant Workers: Here to Stay, Here to Fight9. Taking the Bosses to the Cleaners10. Working and Organising in New Satanic Mills11. Education Workers on the Frontline12. New Kids on the Block13. Capitalisms Gravediggers

About the author

Jane Hardy was Professor of Political Economy at the University of Hertfordshire. She is now an independent writer and researcher. Hardy has published widely on the restructuring of the Polish economy, including her book Poland's New Capitalism (Pluto, 2009). She is a member of the Editorial Board of International Socialism.

Product details

• Authors: Jane Hardy, Hardy Jane
• Publisher: Pluto
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 20.08.2021
• EAN: 9780745341040
• ISBN: 978-0-7453-4104-0
• No. of pages: 240
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Contemporary history (1945 to 1989); Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Globalization, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Advocacy, Industrial relations, health & safety, LAW / Labor & Employment, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Labor & Industrial Relations, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Industrial Health & Safety, Trade Unions, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Sociology: work & labour, Early 21st century c 2000 to c 2050, Sociology: work and labour, Industrial relations, occupational health and safety, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Labor / General, Industrial arbitration and negotiation, Employment and labour law: procedure, dispute resolution