NationStates Jolt Archive

So, what don't you know about the I.W.W.?

For those of you who've never heard of the I.W.W., it is a labor union which was founded July 7, 1905, making it 100 years old this year.
It is a radical labor union, with different organizing strategies than most labor unions.

But, as this thread is for asking questions, I will field your questions before giving any more info.

I'll start:

How is the IWW different from other Unions?

What is the IWW views on 'Scabs'?

I'll start:

How is the IWW different from other Unions?OOh, a good question. Well, there are many ways, but I'll give a few.

Most unions tend to try to get a majority of workers in the workplace. If they fail to, they usually abandon the workplace. The I.W.W. doesn't do this, instead we often will use "minority unionism" practices.

Most unions use the strike to try to get what they want. While the I.W.W. will strike, most of the time we will use other techniques, such as brief work stoppages, work slowdowns, or even more passive methods, such as having everyone in the union in the workplace wear an I.W.W. pin. The idea of solidarity within the workforce can often make the boss acquiesce to our demands.

What is the IWW views on 'Scabs'?
The I.W.W. doesn't scab, period. I haven't heard of any official document advocating violence against scabs, though.

So it dosent support violence against 'Scabs'.

So it dosent support violence against 'Scabs'.
Not to my knowledge.

What does I.W.W stand for?(The initials not the creed)

What does I.W.W stand for?(The initials not the creed)Industrial Workers of the World.

How do you aquire members?

How are they different to other Unions?
Lol. I posted a couple ways, but I'll post a couple more.

The IWW is non-political. This doesn't mean that individual members can't be involved with politics - the union encourages members to be involved in politics. But the union itself doesn't get involved with politics, and will never donate money to a politician or political campaign.

The goal of the IWW is to organize everyone in the world (who is not an employer) into "one big union", thus maximizing the ability of its members to organize.

The IWW is an industrial union (it organizes people by industry, or where they work), rather than a craft union (which organizes people by what they do).

How do you aquire members?There's a method of "cold calling", which is where you talk to some people, (strangers to you) in the workplace, and try to find out their grievances, and try to get them agitated about their grievances, and to make them realize that there is something they can do.

Or, the more common method is to organize "hot shops", workplaces where there is already a grievance, and where the workers have done some organizing on their own, and perhaps have even sought the union out.

I'll start:

How is the IWW different from other Unions?

Maybe it isn't an extortion front for the Mafia, like the Teamsters.

The IWW actually practices what might be called 'syndicalist' politics; that is, their greater overarching goal is having one worldwide industrial union that can eventually take back workplaces and industry from the bosses. A significant number of members are involved in radical politics, often syndicalist with 'anarcho-' attached to the beginning or libertarian Marxism. But it's definitely not required. Certainly the big bunch of south Asian truckers or whatever they unionized awhile back weren't big on the whole radical thing, but the did join.

Ya know, I think the IWW is steeped in politics that are a little, how do you say.. obsolete. Archaic. Syndicalism might have worked in 1914, but it's a very different world and capitalism's a very different animal today. But ya know what? When people want better wages and conditions and need to organize, the Wobblies do get the job done so more power to 'em.

What is the IWW views on 'Scabs'?
They're tasty and fun to pick at.

who would win in a fight: bill haywood or joe hill?

who would win in a fight: bill haywood or joe hill?

Gus Hall.

When people want better wages and conditions and need to organize, the Wobblies do get the job done so more power to 'em.
Well said.

who would win in a fight: bill haywood or joe hill?Joe Hill. Bill Haywood was a coward.

What does I.W.W stand for?(The initials not the creed)
I

Won't

Work! :D

I

Won't

Work! :DLol.