The couriers are revolting! The Despatch Industry Workers Union, 1989-1992

Couriers in London
Couriers in London

An excellent and inspiring pamphlet about London's Despatch Industry Workers Union (DIWU). A radical, self-organised and direct action-oriented grouping, it lasted three years, and here the author recounts its history and analyses its successes, failures and lessons for other workers.

Submitted by Steven. on January 6, 2007

Written by Des Patchrider, this pamphlet was printed and is available for sale from the Kate Sharpley Library. Our thanks go to the KSL and the author for permission to host this text online. Readers are encouraged to donate to the KSL to assist them continue their work in recording and archiving the history of the anarchist and working class movements. Email info at katesharpleylibrary.net for more information.

Alternatively, £25 (or $40) will get you a years Friends of KSL sub, which will get you the normal bulletin subscription plus every book and pamphlet they publish during the year. Cash or cheques (payable to "Kate Sharpley Library", not KSL) can be sent to

Kate Sharpley Library
BM Hurricane
London
WC1N 3XX
England

OCRed for libcom by Linda Towlson

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Comments

sum-one

15 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by sum-one on February 13, 2009

Am I correct in thinking this was a DAM initiative?

Fall Back

15 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fall Back on February 13, 2009

Yes.

Awesome Dude

12 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Awesome Dude on December 6, 2011

Does anyone from Sol-Fed know who wrote this booklet? I imagine the long term inmates of south London 'Sol-Fed' would have some idea?

Joseph Kay

12 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Joseph Kay on December 6, 2011

Yeah, drop them a line and they can ask one of the longer-term members, and maybe put you in touch if possible.

Steven.

12 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Steven. on December 7, 2011

I know him

altemark

7 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by altemark on August 12, 2016

A translation of this pamphlet was issued by the Propaganda Committee of the Swedish Anarcho-Syndicalist Youth Federation in 2002. You can find it at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20040312075058/http://www.syndikalist.nu/pdf/revolt.pdf

Serge Forward

7 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Serge Forward on August 12, 2016

Note: All events in this booklet are true. However, pseudonyms are used to protect those of us still working as couriers. The only real names used are Pete Fordham (a good comrade, deceased)

I was a mate of Pete Fordham's, one time ACF (now the AF) member, who sadly died in a road accident on his bike. When we were designing the ACF logo, the hands and flames image was Pete's idea.