Workers Art Collective (“WAC”)

The Workers’ Art Collective is a group of leftist artists (illustrators, muralists, street artists, cartoonists, painters, graphic designers, and writers) based in Australia, creating art and writing for the workers’ movement. Vitally, the Workers’ Art Collective also consists of workers from various industries, such as warehousing, call centres, construction, disability support work, hospitality, and general labouring, who understand the importance of working-class organisation. They believe that a globally united working class is the most powerful force in society and the primary agent capable of bringing capitalism to its knees. They carry on a long tradition of art that not only fights for social justice but also immerses itself within the organs of working-class power – the mighty trade unions.

The Collective acknowledges that the unions in Australia have been greatly weakened by decades of neoliberal attacks. Union membership is at an all-time low, while workers are being heavily exploited. Wages aren’t growing relative to the cost of living, while profits continue to soar for the big end of town. Workers are working harder than ever and seeing little of the fruits of their labour. They are increasingly divided and fractured by a casualised, insecure work environment deliberately imposed by the bosses. And with this, working-class culture suffers.