Need more info on the IWW

[Terminator X]

So, I've always admired the IWW, and was actually looking into possibly joining up, and researching any branches that might be active in my area, until I stumbled upon this statement on Facebook from someone claiming to be a representative of the IWW, in response to Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO stating that labor needs to break from the Democrats and Republicans:


Stupid idea, Dickie Bird (Trumka). If you think you can make it without the Democratic Party, you are an idiot. What is needed is REFORM, Dickie, and that reform is needed within labor management as well as within the Democratic Party. Labor needs to get off its dead ass and support progressive Democratic candidates instead of supporting Republican deadbeats.

I know that one person doesn't speak for an entire organization, but does the IWW actually advocate breaking with the big business parties? Are they revolutionary in any way or strictly reformist? I was under the impression that the IWW did not have any affiliation with the Democrats and advocated anarcho-syndicalist-esque direct working class representation.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

[Forward Union]

The IWW has absolutely no affiliation to any political organisation whatsoever. It's constitutionally independent - it wouldn't even affiliate to Socialist or Anarchist organisations. Despite ultraleft and Trotskyist attempts to make it do so in history.

The IWW is also politically neutral, the individual was speaking for himself. Within the IWW there are a wide range of working class people with a wide range of views, just like any union, you will find people you disagree with.

[graymouser]

The IWW has absolutely no affiliation to any political organisation whatsoever. It's constitutionally independent - it wouldn't even affiliate to Socialist or Anarchist organisations. Despite ultraleft and Trotskyist attempts to make it do so in history.
Can you document Trotskyist groups attempting to "make" the IWW affiliate to them in the past? I've never heard of any such effort. I know there was a big bust-up in the very early years over the Socialist Labor Party's line that the IWW should affiliate to them, but nothing since then.

[Forward Union]

Can you document Trotskyist groups attempting to "make" the IWW affiliate to them in the past? I've never heard of any such effort. I know there was a big bust-up in the very early years over the Socialist Labor Party's line that the IWW should affiliate to them, but nothing since then.

Yes that's what I meant, and the attempt by Anarchists to get the IWW to affiliate to the IWA.

[bricolage]

The IWW is also politically neutral
You speak to most people and they'd say this is pretty damn political;

The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life.

Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.

[Terminator X]

The IWW is also politically neutral, the individual was speaking for himself. Within the IWW there are a wide range of working class people with a wide range of views, just like any union, you will find people you disagree with.

But isn't a fundamental view of the IWW that the working class and ruling class have nothing in common? Why then, should the working class attempt to work within the bourgeois, big-business Democratic Party?

And I'm perfectly OK with disagreeing on certain issues with people I work with as long as they are on board with the fundamental platform of the organization, but I can't work with someone who advocates reforms within the Democratic Party. This is why I'm curious as to whether this is an accepted, widespread position within the IWW, because I shan't be joining if so.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

The I.WW. is open to everybody*, although the union advocates revolution and working "in the old shell to create a new." People who are Democrats may join the IWW, however it's usually expected that this member become more acquainted with the IWW philosophy/preamble of abolishing capitalism.

*edit: except bosses and bureaucrats

[Forward Union]

You speak to most people and they'd say this is pretty damn political;

You misunderstand. It's not a political organisation, it doesn't organise around its political beliefs but its organising method.

[dawt]

As far as I'm concerned I do not care about what personal views fellow wobblies have, as long as they're in accordance with what the IWW stands for, as laid down in the constitution etc. Party politics have no place within the IWW.

Generally speaking I'd say most Wobblies joined the IWW out of discontent with the parliamentary parties and mainstream unions in the first place, so I doubt you'll find many holding such views. And those that do will probably realise sooner or later that their views are incompatible with one another.

[x359594]

...does the IWW actually advocate breaking with the big business parties? Are they revolutionary in any way or strictly reformist? I was under the impression that the IWW did not have any affiliation with the Democrats and advocated anarcho-syndicalist-esque direct working class representation...

If you're talking about the IWW Facebook page anyone can join it and I would guess that most of them are not Wobblies and know little about the union based on many of the posts I've read there. The fellow worker who started the page is a member in good standing though.

The IWW is non-political in the sense that it does not spend union funds on electoral politics of any sort, whether for ballad measures or allegedly labor-friendly politicians. It does not endorse candidates for office.

Individual members may belong to any political party of their choice, and I know a few Wobs who have cards in the Socialist Party of America, a couple who belong to the Socialist Equality Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Others belong to Anarchist Black Cross, and still others work with Workers Solidarity Alliance.

[Zeus the Moose]

If you're talking about the IWW Facebook page anyone can join it and I would guess that most of them are not Wobblies and know little about the union based on many of the posts I've read there. The fellow worker who started the page is a member in good standing though.

The IWW is non-political in the sense that it does not spend union funds on electoral politics of any sort, whether for ballad measures or allegedly labor-friendly politicians. It does not endorse candidates for office.

Individual members may belong to any political party of their choice, and I know a few Wobs who have cards in the Socialist Party of America, a couple who belong to the Socialist Equality Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Others belong to Anarchist Black Cross, and still others work with Workers Solidarity Alliance.

I'm kind of surprised to hear about SEP members in the IWW. Interesting.

Speaking for myself, I'm a member of the SP-USA as well as the IWW; a good number of SP members that I know are either dual members, or at least supportive of what the IWW does.

[Forward Union]

Well, IWW has now got a branch of around 100 Latin American Workers London, not all of them speak English but I bet they have a diverse range of views on Relgion, Politics, Unionism etc. That's fine, the IWW isn't an ideological group, it's an economic association, defending workers and trying to build an industrial union to overthrow Captialsim.

[RedJanitor]

The idea that we should be supporting "progressive" democratic candidates, as opposed to breaking with the two major parties, is not a position that I have ever heard--from my personal experience in the organization--any IWW member express. So no, that position is not something that is in the least bit common in the IWW, and it is certainly not a position taken by the Union as a whole.