Questions about the IWW

[Weezer]

I was thinking of getting a job next year/summer, and thought, why the hell not, as long as I'm a worker, I should join the IWW.

For the IWW members:

I'm a Trot, can I still join the IWW?

What work has the IWW accomplished in the last few decades?

Are there any other active revolutionary unions in the US I should know about?

Also, my avatar is relevant to this topic.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

1) The IWW is more or less syndicalist and anarchist orientated, so I hope you're okay with the fact the IWW doesn't need the state for the emancipation of the working-class. Don't know how well that sits with a Trot.

2) The IWW has organized in various workplaces the past decade(s) with success. A few examples including truckers, bookstores, bike messengers, grocery stores, etc. A major campaign the past few years is Starbucks.

[MarxSchmarx]

I was thinking of getting a job next year/summer, and thought, why the hell not, as long as I'm a worker, I should join the IWW.

For the IWW members:

I'm a Trot, can I still join the IWW?

What work has the IWW accomplished in the last few decades?

Are there any other active revolutionary unions in the US I should know about?

Also, my avatar is relevant to this topic.

What, are you working for Apple?

There are quite a few wobs around here and they can give you the latest.
I am not a member of the IWW but anyway here's probably their highest profile campaign from the last few years:
http://www.starbucksunion.org/

I don't think the iww cares that you are a trot, they have a dual card policity that lets you be part of sector-specific unions and will certainly be happy to take your due$$$.

In the United States another radical union is the one associated with the Workers Party in America (Workers industrial international union i think they are called), they are quite different from the IWW from what little i understand viz their stance on politics. Miles on here knows much more about them so best to pm hiim if you are interested.

[fa2991]

I was thinking of getting a job next year/summer, and thought, why the hell not, as long as I'm a worker, I should join the IWW.

:thumbup1:


I'm a Trot, can I still join the IWW?You should be able to. The IWW is technically an anarchist union, but I don't think the word is actually present in the constitution or anything. Most of the Wobblies I know consider themselves communists as well, so it shouldn't be a problem. Eugene Debs, Big Bill Haywood, Helen Keller, etc. were all active in the IWW and I don't think any of them were anarchists.

The real question is not whether or not you are an anarchist, but whether or not you believe that revolutionary unionism is a legitimate and viable strategy for the liberation of the proletariat.


What work has the IWW accomplished in the last few decades?They've helped organize some small businesses, they've been hitting Starbucks hard, etc. Recently they created special sub-unions and newspapers for IWW Truck drivers and construction workers. Plus the IWW paper, The Industrial Worker, is a great read. Certainly that counts as an accomplishment. :lol:


Are there any other active revolutionary unions in the US I should know about?Not that I can think of.

[ComradeOm]

What work has the IWW accomplished in the last few decades?In terms of union work? Honestly, not a lot. They're increasingly active and have a number of relatively high profile campaigns (see: Starbucks) but they don't control many shop floors. So if you want to support them then go ahead, and more power to you, but they wouldn't be my first choice if looking for actual workplace protection.

[Proletarian Ultra]

In terms of union work? Honestly, not a lot. They're increasingly active and have a number of relatively high profile campaigns (see: Starbucks) but they don't control many shop floors. So if you want to support them then go ahead, and more power to you, but they wouldn't be my first choice if looking for actual workplace protection.

I know at least two cities in which the IWW has cooperated with Teamsters organizing drives, with some success. I don't know how common that is, but it happens.

[x371322]

Are there any other active revolutionary unions in the US I should know about

As MarxSchmarx pointed out, there's the WIIU (Workers International Industrial Union). I've been looking into them lately, and I like what I've read. Now I don't think they're connected with the WPA, at least not on any official level (someone correct me if I'm wrong). All I know is what I've read from their website:


The WIIU is not allied with any political party and does not rely on any political entity for support or validation. We are self sufficient and shall remain so. Once the time for political action arrives,as decided by the membership of the union, we will form our own party from our own ranks, and that party shall at all times be under the direct control of the WIIU and its membership.

They used to be associated with DeLeon's Socialist Labor Party, eventually disbanded, and have now regrouped. The biggest difference between the WIIU and IWW is simple enough. The WIIU is a lot more "political" than the IWW is. In other words, they don't rule out the use of party politics.

[The Red Next Door]

They do not care about your politics, I have some IWW handbooks. One of their rules is, as a union they do not play tendency politics. I have talk with the IWW here about that too, so go ahead and join.

[Lolshevik]

As MarxSchmarx pointed out, there's the WIIU (Workers International Industrial Union). I've been looking into them lately, and I like what I've read. Now I don't think they're connected with the WPA, at least not on any official level (someone correct me if I'm wrong). All I know is what I've read from their website:

The WIIU is not allied with any political party and does not rely on any political entity for support or validation. We are self sufficient and shall remain so. Once the time for political action arrives,as decided by the membership of the union, we will form our own party from our own ranks, and that party shall at all times be under the direct control of the WIIU and its membership.They used to be associated with DeLeon's Socialist Labor Party, eventually disbanded, and have now regrouped. The biggest difference between the WIIU and IWW is simple enough. The WIIU is a lot more "political" than the IWW is. In other words, they don't rule out the use of party politics.

The connection was informal. And it no longer exists.

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ What happened? A falling out?


Miles on here knows much more about them so best to pm hiim if you are interested.

He's not around much these days for personal reasons. :(

I hope other WIIU comrades post here.

[x359594]

...The IWW is technically an anarchist union...

No, not in any technical sense whatever. I lined up in 1974 and I can tell you that the IWW is a multi-tendency outfit. The ideological orientation of the IWW is stated unambiguously in the Preamble.

Depending on the local, there will be some people who identify as anarcho-syndicalists (I doubt you'll find any pure anarchists at all,) some as Marxists, some as socialists.

Another successful organizing drive has been among bicycle messengers, especially in Chicago and Los Angeles.

[fa2991]

No, not in any technical sense whatever. I lined up in 1974 and I can tell you that the IWW is a multi-tendency outfit. The ideological orientation of the IWW is stated unambiguously in the Preamble.

Depending on the local, there will be some people who identify as anarcho-syndicalists (I doubt you'll find any pure anarchists at all,) some as Marxists, some as socialists.

Another successful organizing drive has been among bicycle messengers, especially in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Well, it's a syndicalist union. In my mind I generally equate syndicalism with anarchism. I think it's a fair assessment. It's not as though the IWW aims to create a "worker's state" or anything.

[Magón]

If I were to join a Union, it'd be the IWW, over the others in my opinion. I've seen IWW work, seen the result of their work from years previous, and I like what I see. Haven't join them, or any other unions over the years, because I just don't really want to have to set myself to one Union, or any Union at the moment. But I'd probably join the IWW in the years to come though.

[The Idler]

As MarxSchmarx pointed out, there's the WIIU (Workers International Industrial Union). I've been looking into them lately, and I like what I've read. Now I don't think they're connected with the WPA, at least not on any official level (someone correct me if I'm wrong). All I know is what I've read from their website:

The WIIU is not allied with any political party and does not rely on any political entity for support or validation. We are self sufficient and shall remain so. Once the time for political action arrives,as decided by the membership of the union, we will form our own party from our own ranks, and that party shall at all times be under the direct control of the WIIU and its membership.They used to be associated with DeLeon's Socialist Labor Party, eventually disbanded, and have now regrouped. The biggest difference between the WIIU and IWW is simple enough. The WIIU is a lot more "political" than the IWW is. In other words, they don't rule out the use of party politics.Who disbanded, the union or the party?

[fa2991]

Who disbanded, the union or the party?

The party.