Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

The Russian Revolution /299
But bearing in mind that not all soviets have the same clearly defined (that is, twisted
and authoritarian) character, it is by no means forbidden, at least in some cases, to
carry on this struggle inside the soviets. However, the main struggle for the creation
of non· authoritarian soviets must be conducted outside the soviets, and it is to this
struggle that first priority must be given.
84. All-Russian Conference of Anarcho-Syndicalists: Resolution on Trade Unions
and Factory Committees (1918)
Maksimov and the Russian anarcho-syndicalists took a critical view of trade unions, which
were dominated by the political parties and then co-opted by the Bolsheviks after the October
Revolution. They continued to support the revolutionary fa ctory committees as a genuine alternative
to the Soviets and the trade unions. The following resolution was adopted by the delegates
to the First All-Russian Conference of Anarcho-Syndicalists held in Moscow in 1918
(reprillted fro m The Anarchists in the Russian Revolution, London: Thames & Hudson,
1973, with the kind permission of the publisher).
I. The desperate economic situation of the country, brought about by the rapacity
and warfare of the imperialist bourgeoisie, requires an immediate and fundamental
revolution in the area of economic relations. It requires the immediate abolition of
the state capitalist system and its replacement by a socialist system on anarchist-communist
lines.
II. The workers' organizations must take a most active part in this cause, each in
its own defined sphere of life, refusing to allow the slightest interference from the
state or any statist organizations whatever.
III. As the unfolding revolution has shown, the trade unions cannot serve as the axis
of the labour movement, fo r they correspond neither in form nor in essence to the
changing political and economic situation. What is now needed is a new form of workers'
organization, one that fully corresponds in structure as well as in essence to the new
revolutionary forms of political and economic life. This-the cherished offspring of the
great workers' revolution-is the factory committee. From now on the entire focus of
the workers' aspirations must be transferred to these organizational forms.
IV. The trade unions, as they are commonly understood, are dead organizations.
Henceforth they must become a branch of the factory committees, carrying on
completely autonomous work in the following areas: a) cultural and educational (at
least wherever proletarian cultural and educational organizations have not yet taken
firm root); b) mutual aid; c) the organization of charity. But the unions must in no way