What are the basic principles of anarcho-syndicalism?
The basic principles of anarcho-syndicalism are workers’ solidarity, direct action and self-management. They are the manifestation in daily life of the application to the workers’ movement of the libertarian principles of anarchism. The anarchist philosophy which inspires these basic principles also defines their purpose; that is, to be a tool of self-emancipation from wage-slavery, and as a means of working towards Libertarian Communism (see section 5). Whilst one or another of the principles can be seen in operation in numerous social and political movements, not all of which are necessarily even libertarian, it is the employment of all three which is uniquely anarcho-syndicalist. Bureaucratic trade unions practise workers’ solidarity when it suits, but violate the principle of direct action when supporting supposedly “labour” candidates for political office. Racist social movements practise direct action, but violate the principle of solidarity by directing it against fellow workers
