The Couriers are Revolting! now online

ireland / britain | workplace struggles | press release Tuesday January 09, 2007 18:13 by KSL

"The Couriers are Revolting", Des Patchrider's story of the Despatch Industry Workers Union (1989-92) is now available as online reading in the libcom.org library.

First published in 2000 by the Kate Sharpley Library, it's the story of the building a grassroots union on anarcho-syndicalist principles among London's motorcycle despatch riders.

"Starting a union can be exciting, risky, hard work and a right good laugh... Even when nothing seems to go right there still exists the solidarity of comradeship. It was ironic (or flattering!) that the bosses with all their money and power were so scared of our humble union.

We were only an ordinary group of workers who had sod-all money or power... we hoped that we could provide an example or inspiration for workers to organise similarly in other industries. Workers like YOU! Read on..."

Review comments include:
"The DIWU was '…loosely based on the anti- bureaucratic anarcho-syndicalist type of union that they have in Spain, France and elsewhere.' This in short seems to mean they didn’t fuck about. They certainly had more in common with direct action groups like Reclaim The Streets, than the postal ballot and block votes for Frank Dobson unions like UNISON and the TGWU. ... It is well written and easy to read and at £2 should be required reading for all downtrodden workers of the world"
Dave, "Riders Digest" June 2000 p53

"Honest and funny, it looks at the uphill task facing anybody trying to shape the diverse courier scene into one cohesive organisation."
"Private Hire and Courier" July 2000 p 33

Available online at:
http://libcom.org/library/the-couriers-are-revolting-the-despatch-industry-workers-union-1989-1992

Hard copies are available from various distributors and direct from the Kate Sharpley Library www.katesharpleylibrary.net