What can you tell me about the IWW?

[Le Socialiste]

I'll be moving to Berkeley, CA starting next January and I've been hoping to get involved in some way. Recently I've been growing more and more interested in the IWW, which has a Bay Area branch in Berkeley (according to its website). Can any current IWW members tell me what it's like within the organization or what's expected of you once you join? This will be my first real foray into "revolutionary leftism" outside of mere theory, so I want to find a group that will help me in that regard. I won't have any real job prospects once I move in January as I'll be starting as a student, but I'm currently working as a church custodian. What are the general views on unemployed members (I noted that the website says it is okay for a member to be unemployed, but any further insight from someone inside the IWW would be appreciated). And lastly, just what can you tell me about it? Is it very active? How are its membership numbers (not that it really matters to me, just curious)? Anything you guys can tell me would be very helpful.

[Искра]

Why don't you send them an email? That is more usefull that asking people here, because they could be more open to you.

[Le Socialiste]

Why don't you send them an email? That is more usefull that asking people here, because they could be more open to you.

That's true, I just thought I'd ask here as well (seeing as there's a few IWW members wandering about). To be honest I'm a little nervous - the only other organization I ever joined was the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), which I left fairly quickly after I realized it was little more than another pro-Democratic group. I also wanted to get some thoughts and perspectives from people inside the IWW that weren't directly involved in the basic recruiting process (such as those I'd be emailing about joining).

[o well this is ok I guess]

I heard someone mention here that they don't take students. Dunno if that's true/true across the board, though.

[Paulappaul]

They don't take students.

[The Douche]

I was a member at large for a while. I paid my dues, they sent me my membership stamps, I put them in my card, every month I got the paper and read it. Let my membership lapse after 6 months.

They accept students, or at least, did then. I was a full time student and enlisted in the national guard, no other job, pretty sure I was listed in iu620, education workers' union.

[The Douche]

They don't take students.

I had to double check this cause I've seen it stated lately, the constitution of the IWW says the following:


No unemployed or retired worker, no working-class student, apprentice, home- maker, prisoner or unwaged volunteer on a project initiated by the IWW or any subordinate body thereof shall be excluded from membership on the grounds that s/he is not currently receiving wages.

(emphasis mine)


Furthermore, a cursory glance at the FAQ on the IWW website states students can join.


So like I said, pretty sure I was in iu620.

[Paulappaul]

My local didn't allow me in when I was in High School. Go figure. Bunch of Fascist fucks.

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ How exactly is not letting in mere students "fascist"? :confused:

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1872/03/us-splits.htm


The General Council was some months ago precluded from recognizing a Slavonian section exclusively composed of students [...] the General Council recommends that in future there be admitted no new American section of which two-thirds at least do not consist of wage laborers.

[genstrike]

First, the IWW accepts students, unless you're also a boss on the side.

The IWW also has no problems with the unemployed (I was unemployed for a while last year and remained a member), retired, etc. Basically, if you aren't a boss, you're cool.

I've never been down that way, but the Bay Area branch is one of the largest in the union (I think it is probably the largest branch), and I know a couple good folks from there via meeting at convention and over correspondence.

As for what's expected of you... there are dues, which range from $5-27 a month, depending on your income. And people would probably want you to be involved in the union, support local IWW initiatives, and look into organizing at your workplace if applicable.

The IWW has been growing for the past few years, in large part due to some things we've been doing differently and some stuff we've learned via experience (our Organizer Training program is awesome!). It's tricky to estimate total membership, as the official figures fluctuate as people get behind on their dues and then get caught up again, but it is definitely in the thousands.

Finally, IWW folks are by and large good people, easy to get along with and nice to hang out with, and there's a real culture of solidarity (I sometimes joke that being an IWW member entitles you to a couch in most major cities in North America)

[Ele'ill]

From what I've seen here in Portland- the IWW are a diverse group who bring forward a serious focus on solidarity to every event they attend. I am sure this has a lot to do with the specific branch but the IWW people up here are well organized and very vocal. They act with a sense of urgency that a lot of groups don't have- once they're in it they're in it for the duration.

Personally I'm waiting for the next organizer training as I'd like to join up with them.

[Paulappaul]

^^^ How exactly is not letting in mere students "fascist"? :confused:

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1872/03/us-splits.htm

It was a Joke. Honestly it is still fucked. I don't care what the IWA says.