How radical is the IWW in practice?

[nativeabuse]

Ok I'm only just now deciding to maybe join the IWW, but I'm having second thoughts, so I had a few questions.

What is the political climate of the IWW right now?
Would you say IWW is a Marxist-Leninist friendly organization?

I'm really just going to be kind of disappointed if I go to the meetings and it ends up not being as radical of an organization as I'm wanting it to be.

What is the overall opinion here of the IWW?

[skitty]

http://www.iww.org/en/about

[nativeabuse]

Yes I am not an idiot, I just can't make heads or tails as to whether it is revolutionary in nature or just a sensible union.

Stuff like


To the end of promoting industrial unity and of securing necessary discipline within the organisation, the IWW refuses all alliances, direct or indirect, with any political parties or anti-political sects, and disclaims responsibility for any individual opinion or act which may be at variance with the purposes herein expressed.

This leads some to argue that the IWW is an anarchist or anarcho-syndicalist union and/or organization, but that is also not the case.

This is just really disheartening, and confusing I was totally of the impression that they were hardline anarcho-syndicalist.

That's why I wanted answers from IWW members as to how radical they are in practice, since their site doesn't have any clear answers.

[skitty]

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.
We find that the centering of the management of industries into fewer and fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with the ever growing power of the employing class. The trade unions foster a state of affairs which allows one set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the same industry, thereby helping defeat one another in wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into the belief that the working class have interests in common with their employers.
These conditions can be changed and the interest of the working class upheld only by an organization formed in such a way that all its members in any one industry, or in all industries if necessary, cease work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an injury to one an injury to all.
Instead of the conservative motto, "A fair day's wage for a fair day's work," we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watchword, "Abolition of the wage system."
It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not only for everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on production when capitalism shall have been overthrown. By organizing industrially we are forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old.-Preamble to IWW constitution

I would say draw your own conclusions from this. My guess is they avoid a lot of complications by avoiding official political affiliations; and, as it is a union for all workers, they don't want to alienate anyone.

[o well this is ok I guess]

Yes I am not an idiot, I just can't make heads or tails as to whether it is revolutionary in nature or just a sensible union.

Stuff like



This is just really disheartening, and confusing I was totally of the impression that they were hardline anarcho-syndicalist.

That's why I wanted answers from IWW members as to how radical they are in practice, since their site doesn't have any clear answers. You're allowed to attend their meetings. Just go to one and then talk with the members and shit.

[nativeabuse]

You're allowed to attend their meetings. Just go to one and then talk with the members and shit.

I plan on going to one soon, I was just hoping I could get a quick answer here as to how radical they are.

I did read the part where they state


It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not only for everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on production when capitalism shall have been overthrown. By organizing industrially we are forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old.

Which makes them sound like they are a revolutionary group, but at the same time the rest of their entire website seems like run of the mill unionism without any real political edge to it.

[skitty]

"...and it ends up not being as radical of an organization as I'm wanting it to be."

I guess that's up to you? You could try to organise where you work(not that easy) or support other unions in their struggles. I think the IWW's biggest weakness now is lack of numbers?

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

So, I'm gonna say I find your question kind of confusing - "How radical?" sounds as though you're looking for something quantifiable. "They're an 8 out of 10!" Of course, I'm sure that's not what you mean, but the stuff you've posted hasn't really clarified anything. The IWW was involved in the wildcat strikes the preceded a Canada wide strike of postal workers in 2011. They've done some sweet direct solidarity actions in the vein of SeaSol (which, for that matter, is an organization full of Wobblies). They've organized in some pretty precarious sectors.
If you're asking "Politically, where do they stand?" - they're all over the fucking place. Until recently, they were pretty backward on gender - though their Women/Trans/Fem caucus recently rewrote their sexual assault policies. Among the members I've known, the politics have varied from anarchist to Marxist to a the odd social democrat . . . but it's basically a coalition aimed at serving particular ends, not at seizing power as an organization in itself.
*shrug*

[nativeabuse]

If you're asking "Politically, where do they stand?" - they're all over the fucking place. Until recently, they were pretty backward on gender - though their Women/Trans/Fem caucus recently rewrote their sexual assault policies. Among the members I've known, the politics have varied from anarchist to Marxist to a the odd social democrat . . . but it's basically a coalition aimed at serving particular ends, not at seizing power as an organization in itself.
*shrug*

That's basically the answer I was looking for thank you. I was just asking because looks can be deceiving, I mean look at CPUSA for instance, they have been reduced to Social Democrats who were for Obama. I just wanted to know that IWW was actually leftist and not something in the SD/liberal sort of vain.

[blake 3:17]

Everyone I've known from the IWW has been pretty right on. I'd check out the local group and see what they're doing.

[Die Neue Zeit]

The IWW doesn't bother organizing as its own political party or action committee (unlike the Freelancers Union, for example), and it signs no-strike clauses.