My Hopes for the Labor Association1

(November 21, 1921)

The Labor Association is now one year old, and I have been sympathizing with it
for one year as well. Why do I have such particular sympathy for the Labor
Association? Labor is sacred,2 all things are made by laborers, and the Labor
Association is a united body of laborers, so everyone should be sympathetic to it.
During the past year, the association's difficulties in establishing itself have
already written the first page in the history of the Hunan labor movement. Now
it's time to begin writing the second page. I hope that what is written on this
second page will be very different from what is on the first page: that the
material will be richer, the meaning fresher, the style and organization further
approaching perfection. Therefore, on the basis of my own thoughts, I want to
contribute some hopes for the future:

1. The purpose of a labor organization is not merely to rally the laborers to
get better pay and shorter working hours by means of strikes. It should
also nurture class consciousness so as to unite the whole class and seek the
basic interests of the whole class. I hope that every member of the Labor
Association will pay special attention to this very basic goal.
2. As far as organization is concerned, it is best to follow the pattern of the
Western trade unions: a body of representatives from the members should
elect a certain number of people to form a committee with full powers to
oversee the administration of the association. We certainly do not want the

This article appeared on November 21, 1921, in a special issue of Laogong zhoukan
commemorating the first anniversary of the establishment of the Labor Association. Our
source is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7, which gives these particulars regarding first
publication more clearly than the text in Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 9, pp. 115-16.
1. The Labor Association Mao is referring to is that organized in November 1920 by
two Hunanese anarchists, Huang Ai and Pang Renquan. Huang and Pang were graduates
of the Hunan First Industrial School. At the outset most of the members were students
from industrial schools, but membership quickly expanded to include tradesmen and
factory workers. Until this time, its largest action has been the organization of 2,000-odd
workers in April 1921 to demonstrate at the No. 1 Cotton Mill. in opposition to the selling
of the factory to interests outside the province. Its organ was called Labor Weekly. Regarding the subsequent careers of Huang and Pang and their execution in 1922 see below,
the note to the document dated December 14, 1922.
2. "Labor is sacred" (laogong shensheng) was one of the key slogans of the nascent
labor and communist movement in this early period.


old guild system, but neither do we want a system that has too many staff
members, too many departments, or too much dispersion of authority.
3. The Labor Association has been organized by the workers, so it should be
financed by the workers themselves. Furthermore, it should raise funds for
strikes and elections. Of course, we cannot accomplish these goals immediately, but I feel the first step should be that whatever the circumstances, each member pays minimal monthly dues, even if it is as little as
one copper cash a month. The second step should be that the association
be self-supporting. This is very important. I hope every member of the
Labor Association will pay attention to it.

My hopes are limited to these three. In conclusion, I want to address a few
simple words by way of a toast to my friends the laborers, to stir their ardor:

"Those who do not labor shall not eat!"
"Laborers should have the right to strike!"
"Labor is sacred!"
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his deserts!"
"The whole world belongs to the laborers!"
"Workers of the world, unite!"