Happy Official newspaper oF The Industrial Workers of the World International Wo m e n ’ s INDUSTRIALMarch 2014 #1763 Vol. 111 No. 2 $2/ £2/ €2 WORKER Day!

Winnipeg IWW: A Tale Staughton Lynd: Jane LaTour: Toward Addressing Sexual Of Two Trainings A Tribute To Rosa Equal Employment Violence In The IWW 5 Luxemburg 6 For Women 7 8 Being A Woman Organizer Isn’t Easy By Luz Sierra to the United States carrying traditions ous male members of This past year I became politically from the 1970s and 1980s. Daughters are my current and ex- active. I went from being completely un- raised by women who were taught that tended family had the aware of the existence of radical politics their goal in life is to be an obedient wife opportunity to finish to doing organizing work in Miami with and to devote their time to raising chil- their education, some an anarchist perspective. It has been dren and making their husbands happy. even received college both a rewarding and difficult journey, Latin women are supposed to be modest, degrees, and went on yet gender seems to haunt me wherever I self-reserved, have the ability to fulfill to become dominant go. I am probably not the first woman to domestic roles and be overall submissive. figures in their house- experience this, but I believe that I should Some Hispanic families might not follow holds. The male fam- demonstrate how this is a real issue and this social construction, but there are still ily members also had provide my personal insight for other a large number of them who insert this the chance to do as women to have a reference point for their moral into their households. For instance, they pleased for they own struggles. this social construct is apparent in the pre- left all household and Being raised by Nicaraguan parents vious three generations of my father’s and childcare responsibili- and growing up in Miami’s Latin com- mother’s families. My great grandmothers, ties to their wives. As munity, I have firsthand experience with grandmothers, mother and aunts never the cycle continued, the sexist culture in South Florida. Many completed their education and spend the my mother and grand- families that migrated from South and majority of their life taking care of their mothers attempted to Central America and the Caribbean arrived husbands and children. Meanwhile, vari- Continued on 6 Wob women at a picket in Brooklyn, 2007. Photo: Tom Good Around The Union: Mobile Rail Workers Win, Wobblies Organize Worldwide Compiled by FNB Portland Mobile Rail Workers Union to IWW General Headquarters (GHQ) “Around The Union” is a new IW The local Food and Retail Workers One more IWW victory, folks! On for acceptance at its February meeting. feature showcasing the tremendous orga- United organizing committee is still very Feb. 10, Mobile Rail Solutions—a small The Kentucky Wobblies have been ac- nizing work of Wobblies throughout the busy, meeting multiple times a month, railroad servicing company based in Il- tively working to become a voice in the world. Send your updates to iw-reports@ some in the mornings for night workers linois—decided to settle out of court for community and has been working with iww.org. and evenings for morning $159,791. As part of the Kentucky Jobs with Justice and meeting workers. The group has settlement Mobile Rail at the Anne and Carl Braden Center. These Twin Cities more than 30 active mem- admitted that the IWW fellow workers say they look forward to fi- Canvassers from Sisters Camelot are bers, as the IWW is active in members were unfair la- nally creating an active branch in the great still on strike. They are mostly concentrat- multiple shops. The GMB’s bor practice strikers and Commonwealth of Kentucky: “We hope to ing on their food-sharing collective, called Industrial Union (IU) 650 not economic strikers. The teach the state about that common part. the North Country Food Alliance, while workers are still active in workers went public with OBU,” they said. maintaining a scab watch. The Chicago multiple shops as well. Two the IWW on July 8, 2013. Lake Liquors campaign ended in July new campaigns have been Miami 2013, with the fired workers taking a mon- ongoing: in domestic work Los Angeles In the South Florida GMB, members etary settlement, a significant portion of and another for $5 mini- Wobblies from Los are agitating, mapping, and taking initial which was given to the Twin Cities General mum wage increases. Angeles, Portland and Salt steps at their jobs in banking, healthcare, Membership Branch (GMB). There are a Dual-card and solidar- Lake City held a round- retail and printing. The branch is holding couple of non-public campaigns getting off ity work are being carried Graphic: Mobile Rail Workers Union table public meeting on regular meetings to discuss their experi- the ground currently. Recently these fel- out for an expected Portland public school Feb. 10 for workers in the food and retail ences in organizing and educate ourselves low workers had a branch summit, which teachers’ strike, as well as a bus workers’ industries. Over 20 people attended and about ideas and action. Every month the revolved around reflections about 2013 strike. Members are also quite active in great discussion was held. branch holds barbeques in the park with campaigns. There are ongoing dual-card the “Defend Wyatt, Defeat Right to Work” soccer matches. IWW posters, cards, flyers efforts in the education, warehousing, and campaign. Wyatt McMinn is a member of Kentucky and pamphlets are distributed in neigh- communications industries. Twin Cities the International Union of Painters and The Kentucky IWW will file its request borhoods and working-class districts of IWW members are trying to assist Wobs in Allied Trades, who was arrested in a pro- for a branch charter soon. At press time, South Florida in order to get the word out Duluth in getting a branch started. Several test at a right-to-work political meeting in fellow workers in Kentucky said that after about our efforts and make contacts with members are involved in the planning of Vancouver, Wash. More information can about a year of gathering at-large members workers ready to work around issues at a 1934 Teamsters strike commemoration be found at: https://www.facebook.com/ and signing up new ones, the group will their jobs, their buildings and neighbor- event that will take place this summer. defendwyattdefeatrighttowork. vote on the bylaws and submit paper work hoods.

Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage International (Working) Women’s Day PO Box 180195 PAID By the IWW Gender Equity from the gar- Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL Committee ment workers’ and additional The Gender Equity Committee (GEC) strike of 1857, ISSN 0019-8870 mailing offices is both honored and excited to reflect on in which they ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED the impact working women have had on demanded an the labor movement and working-class end to sweat- struggle, contributing to the creation of shop and child International Women’s Day (IWD). labor, and the IWD, for more than a century, has right to vote. been and continues to be a day of working- In 1910, at Graphic: X374242 class women’s resistance and organizing, a meeting of bridging the women’s movement and the The Second International, German social- working-class labor movement. ist Clara Zetkin proposed that March 8 be IWD dates back to the garment work- celebrated as International Women’s Day ers’ picket in New York City on March 8, to commemorate both previously men- 1857, when women workers demanded a tioned strikes and lay a fertile ground for 10-hour workday, better working condi- working women’s resistance and organiz- tions, and equal rights for women. Fifty- ing across the globe. one years later, on March 8, 1908, a group Two years later, in 1912, Wobblies of New York needle trades women workers went on strike at a textile mill in Lawrence, went on strike in honor of their sisters Continued on 8 Page 2 • Industrial Worker • March 2014

Remembering Ludlow events. You can go on their website to get In the face of such hostility, KUNA One of the most bitter and longest additional information. has responded with emails, fliers, and strikes in American history was the min- Raymond S. Solomon events that have included an informational ers’ strike against the John D. Rockefeller- picket and a candlelight vigil for patient owned Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. Solidarity In Kansas City care. These actions are meant to highlight The strike started in September 1913. The On behalf of the Kansas University the concerns that nurses have for patient demands of the strikers included shorter Nurses Association (KUNA), I would like safety and satisfaction. hours, enforcement of Colorado’s labor to thank the Greater Kansas City IWW, With the help of community organiza- Letters Welcome! laws, payment in U.S. currency instead of whose members continue to support the tions of all types, and with the solidarity Send your letters to: [email protected] with script money (which was only good at com- struggle KUNA has been engaged in with of our sisters and brothers represented “Letter” in the subject. pany stores), and better safety conditions. the University of Kansas Hospital to obtain by other unions, we have been successful Mailing Address: Ethnically, the strikers included Italians, a fair contract for nurses employed there. in bringing attention to the community Industrial Worker, P.O. Box 180195, Greeks, and Serbs—all immigrants. Rock- These nurses have been in an ongoing about our struggle. KUNA is grateful to Chicago, IL 60618, United States. efeller figured that people with different struggle that began when their contract ne- those who have stood in solidarity during mother tongues would have a hard time gotiations started July 2, 2013. After a long our continued struggle. May Day! May Day! forming a union and acting together. negotiation process, the hospital gave our Members of the Greater Kansas City The strikers were evicted from their union its “last, best, and final offer” on Oct. IWW have come out in impressive num- The deadline for announcements for the shacks. They set up a tent colony on nearby 9. KUNA's negotiating team reluctantly bers to join us on the picket line. They annual “May Day” Industrial Worker is grounds. But they were harassed by goons accepted the offer, and it was taken to the came out again to support our struggle at April 4, 2014. Celebrate the real labor of the Felts-Baldwin Detective Agency. membership for ratification. The members the candlelight vigil. Fellow Worker Carl day with a message of solidarity! Send This harassment was done with modern rejected the offer overwhelmingly. videotaped these events and took many announcements to [email protected]. Much guns. Then, on April 20, 1914, the colony The hospital then ramped up its union- pictures. After more than seven months of appreciated donations for the following was attacked by the Colorado National busting efforts. Using captive audience tense conflict with the hospital, the Greater sizes should be sent to: Guard. The twisted bodies of two women meetings and mass emails to all staff, the Kansas City IWW continues to stand by the and eleven children were found. This was hospital’s leadership attempted to dis- nurses of KUNA. IWW GHQ, P.O. Box 180195, the Ludlow Massacre. credit KUNA and intimidate union activ- If only such solidarity were more com- Chicago, IL 60618, United States. The United Mine Workers of America ists. These anti-union efforts continue to mon in today’s labor movement. Perhaps, (UMW) has purchased the land upon the present day, as the hospital disparages with examples like these, that will come $12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide which the massacre occurred and erected KUNA and the effort our union is making too! $40 for 4” by 2 columns a monument. This year the UMW is com- to assure patient safety and satisfaction Cheryl Shoemaker (an executive $90 for a quarter page memorating the massacre with various are our first priorities. board member of KUNA) Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Africa Regional Organisers Colorado New Mexico Industrial Unionism Uganda Central England RO: [email protected] Denver GMB: 2727 West 27th Ave., Unit D, 80211. 303- Albuquerque GMB: P.O. Box 4892, 87196-4892. 505- IWW Kabale Uganda: Justus Tukwasibwe Weij- Central Scotland RO: [email protected], 355-2032. [email protected] 569-0168, [email protected] Organization agye, P.O. Box 217, Kabale , Uganda, East Africa. [email protected] DC New York jkweijagye[at]yahoo.com Northern England RO: [email protected] Washington DC GMB: P.O. Box 1303, 20013. 202-630- New York City GMB: 45-02 23rd Street, Suite #2, Long Education Asia Southern England RO: [email protected] 9620. [email protected]. www.dciww.org, www. Island City,11101. [email protected]. www.wobblycity. org Taiwan Southeast England RO: [email protected] facebook.com/dciww Emancipation Florida Starbucks Campaign: iwwstarbucksunion@gmail. Taiwan IWW: c/o David Temple, 4 Floor, No. 3, Ln. 67, Wales: [email protected] com, www.starbucksunion.org Shujing St., Beitun Dist., Taichung City 40641 Taiwan. Gainesville GMB: c/o Civic Media Center, 433 S. Main St., Official newspaper of the Cymru Wales GMB: [email protected] 32601. Robbie Czopek, del., 904-315-5292, gainesvil- Hudson Valley GMB: P.O. Box 48, Huguenot 12746, 845- 098-937-7029. [email protected] British Isles 342-3405, [email protected], http://hviww.blogspot. Industrial Workers [email protected], www.gainesvilleiww.org Australia Health Workers IU 610: [email protected] Miami IWW: 305-894-6515. [email protected], http:// com/ of the World New South Wales Pizza Hut Workers IU 640: [email protected] iwwmiami.wordpress.com. Facebook: Miami IWW Syracuse IWW: [email protected] Sydney GMB: [email protected]. Laura, del., Sheffield Education Workers: [email protected] Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455-6608. Upstate NY GMB: P.O. Box 235, Albany 12201-0235, Post Office Box 180195 [email protected]. 772-545-9591, [email protected] 518-833-6853 or 518-861-5627. www.upstate-nyiww. Chicago, IL 60618 USA London Bus Drivers: [email protected] org, [email protected], Rochelle Semel, Newcastle: [email protected] London Cleaners: [email protected] Georgia del., P.O. Box 172, Fly Creek 13337, 607-293-6489, 773.728.0996 • [email protected] Woolongong: [email protected] Bradford GMB: [email protected] Atlanta GMB: P.O. Box 5390, 31107. 678-964-5169, [email protected] Lismore: [email protected] [email protected], www.atliww.org www.iww.org Bristol GMB: [email protected] Utica IWW: Brendan Maslauskas Dunn, del., 315-240- Queensland Leeds GMB: [email protected] Hawaii 3149. [email protected] Brisbane: P.O. Box 5842, West End, Qld 4101. iww- London GMB: [email protected] Honolulu: Tony Donnes, del., [email protected] North Carolina General Secretary-Treasurer: [email protected]. Asger, del., happyanarchy@riseup. Manchester GMB: [email protected] Idaho Greensboro GMB: P. O. Box 5022, 27435. 1-855-IWW-4- net Boise: Ritchie Eppink, del., P.O. Box 453, 83701. 208-371- GSO (855-499-4476). [email protected] Monika Vykoukal South Australia Nottingham: [email protected] 9752, [email protected] North Dakota Adelaide: [email protected], www.wobbliesSA. Reading GMB: [email protected] Illinois Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. Sheffield GMB: [email protected] General Executive Board: org. Jesse, del., 0432 130 082 Chicago GMB: P.O. Box 15384, 60615. 312-638-9155, com Sam Green, Jason Krpan, Victoria Sussex GMB: [email protected] [email protected] Ohio Melbourne: P.O. Box 145, Moreland, VIC 3058. mel- West Midlands GMB: [email protected] Mid-Ohio GMB: c/o Riffe, 4071 Indianola Ave., Columbus DJ Alperovitz, Brian Latour, [email protected], www.iwwmelbourne. York GMB: [email protected] Indiana 43214. [email protected] wordpress.com. Loki, del., lachlan.campbell.type@ Scotland Indiana GMB: 219-308-8634. [email protected]. Northeast Ohio GMB: P.O. Box 141072, Cleveland 44114. Ryan G., Montigue Magruder Facebook: Indiana IWW gmail.com Clydeside GMB: [email protected] 440-941-0999 Geelong: [email protected] Iowa Ohio Valley GMB: P.O. Box 6042, Cincinnati 45206, 513- Dumfries and Galloway GMB: [email protected] Eastern Iowa IWW: 319-333-2476. EasternIowaIWW@ 510-1486, [email protected] Editor & Graphic Designer: Western Australia Edinburgh GMB: [email protected] gmail.com Perth GMB: P.O. Box 1, Cannington WA 6987. perthwob- Sweet Patches Screenprinting IU 410 Job Shop: Diane Krauthamer [email protected]. Bruce, del.,coronation78@hotmail. Belgium Kansas [email protected] Floris De Rycker, Sint-Bavoplein 7, 2530 Boechout, Greater Kansas City/Lawrence GMB: 816-875-6060. Oklahoma [email protected] com Belgium. [email protected] Canada [email protected] Tulsa: P.O. Box 213, Medicine Park 73557, 580-529-3360 German Language Area Wichita: Naythan Smith, del., 316-633-0591. IWW Canadian Regional Organizing Committee (CAN- IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing [email protected] Oregon Proofreaders: ROC): [email protected] Committee (GLAMROC): IWW, Haberweg 19, 61352 Bad Lane GMB: Ed Gunderson, del., 541-743-5681. x355153@ Maria Rodriguez Gil, Afreen Azim, Alberta Homburg, Germany. [email protected]. www. Louisiana iww.org, www.eugeneiww.org Edmonton GMB: P.O. Box 4197, T6E 4T2. edmontongmb@ wobblies.de Louisiana IWW: John Mark Crowder, del.,126 Kelly Lane, Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., 97214, 503-231- Jerome Baxter, Anthony Cage, iww.org, edmonton.iww.ca. Austria: [email protected], [email protected]. Homer, 71040. 318-224-1472. [email protected] 5488. [email protected], portlandiww.org Jonathan D. Beasley, Jacob Brent, British Columbia www.iwwaustria.wordpress.com. Maine Portland Red and Black Cafe: 400 SE 12th Ave, 97214. Berlin: Offenes Treffen jeden 2.Montag im Monat im Cafe 503-231-3899. [email protected]. www. Mathieu Dube, Neil Parthun, Vancouver GMB: 204-2274 York Ave., V6K 1C6. Maine IWW: 207-619-0842. [email protected], www. redandblackcafe.com 604-732-9613. [email protected]. www. Commune, Reichenberger Str.157, 10999 Berlin, 18 Uhr. southernmaineiww.org (U-Bahnhof Kottbusser Tor). Postadresse: IWW Berlin, c/o Pennsylvania Skylaar Amann, Chris Heffner, vancouveriww.com Rotes Antiquariat, Rungestr. 20, 10179 Berlin, Germany. Maryland Baltimore GMB: P.O. Box 33350, 21218. baltimoreiww@ Lancaster IWW: P.O. Box 352, 17608. 717-559-0797. Billy O’Connor, Eric Wind, Vancouver Island GMB: Box 297 St. A, Nanaimo BC, V9R [email protected]. [email protected] 5K9. [email protected]. http://vanislewobs.wordpress. Bremen: [email protected]. iwwbremen. gmail.com David Patrick, Joel Gosse, com Massachusetts Lehigh Valley GMB: P.O. Box 1477, Allentown, 18105- blogsport.de 1477. 484-275-0873. [email protected]. Zachary Snowdon Smith Manitoba Cologne/Koeln GMB: c/o Allerweltshaus, Koernerstr. Boston Area GMB: P.O. Box 391724, Cambridge, 02139. www. facebook.com/lehighvalleyiww Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, P.O. Box 1, R3C 2G1. 77-79, 50823 Koeln, Germany. [email protected]. 617-863-7920, [email protected], www.IW- Nicki Meier, Erika Shearer www.iwwcologne.wordpress.com Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: 610-358-9496. pa- 204-299-5042, [email protected] WBoston.org [email protected], www.papercranepress.com Frankfurt - Eurest: IWW Betriebsgruppe Eurest New Brunswick Cape Cod/SE Massachusetts: [email protected] Pittsburgh GMB: P.O. Box 5912,15210. 412-894-0558. Fredericton: [email protected], Haberweg 19 D- 61352 Bad Homburg. harald.stubbe@ Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, P.O. Printer: frederictoniww.wordpress.com yahoo.de. [email protected] Box 1581, Northampton, 01061 Rhode Island Globe Direct/Boston Globe Media Ontario Hamburg-Waterkant: [email protected] Kassel: [email protected]. www.wobblies-kassel. Michigan Providence GMB: P.O. Box 5795, 02903. 508-367-6434. Millbury, MA Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: 1106 Wellington Detroit GMB: 4210 Trumbull Blvd., 48208. detroit@ [email protected] St., P.O. Box 36042, Ottawa, K1Y 4V3. [email protected], de iww.org. Munich: [email protected] Tennessee [email protected] Grand Rapids GMB: P.O. Box 6629, 49516. 616-881-5263. Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Karen Crossman, spokesper- Rostock: [email protected]. iww-rostock.net [email protected] Mid-Tennessee IWW: Lara Jennings, del., 106 N. 3rd St., Next deadline is son, 613-282-7968, [email protected] Switzerland: [email protected] Clarksville, 37040. 931-206-3656. Jonathan Beasley, March 7, 2014 Grand Rapids Bartertown Diner and Roc’s Cakes: 6 del., 2002 Post Rd., Clarksville, 37043 931-220-9665. Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, Greece: [email protected]. iww.org.gr Jefferson St., 49503. [email protected], www. Texas 705-749-9694. Sean Carleton, del., 705-775-0663, Iceland: Jamie McQuilkin,del.,Stangarholti 26 Reykjavik bartertowngr.com [email protected] El Paso IWW: Sarah Michelson, del., 314-600-2762. 105. +354 7825894. [email protected] Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason 48854. [email protected] U.S. IW mailing address: Toronto GMB: c/o Libra Knowledge & Information Svcs Lithuania: [email protected] 517-676-9446, [email protected] IW, Post Office Box 180195, Co-op, P.O. Box 353 Stn. A, M5W 1C2. 416-919-7392. iw- Minnesota Golden Triangle IWW (Beaumont - Port Arthur): gt- [email protected]. Max Bang, del., nowitstime610@ Netherlands: [email protected] [email protected] Chicago, IL 60618, United Norway IWW: 004793656014. post@iwwnorge. Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. South Texas IWW: [email protected] gmail.com com org. http://www.iwwnorge.org, www.facebook.com/ Utah States Windsor GMB: c/o WWAC, 328 Pelissier St., N9A 4K7. iwwnorge. Twitter: @IWWnorge Twin Cities GMB: 3019 Minnehaha Ave. South, Suite 50, (519) 564-8036. [email protected]. http:// Minneapolis 55406. [email protected] Salt Lake City GMB: P.O. Box 1227, 84110. 801-871- windsoriww.wordpress.com United States 9057. [email protected] ISSN 0019-8870 Duluth IWW: P.O. Box 3232, 55803. iwwduluth@riseup. Québec Alaska Vermont Periodicals postage Fairbanks GMB: P. O. Box 80101, 99708. Chris White, del., net Montreal GMB: cp 60124, Montréal, QC, H2J 4E1. 514- 907-457-2543, [email protected]. Missouri Burlington GMB: P.O. Box 8005, 05402. 802-540-2541 paid Chicago, IL. 268-3394. [email protected] Virginia Europe Arizona Greater Kansas City IWW: P.O. Box 414304, Kansas City Phoenix GMB: P.O. Box 7126, 85011-7126. 623-336- 64141-4304. 816.875.6060. [email protected] Richmond IWW: P.O. Box 7055, 23221. 804-496-1568. European Regional Administration (ERA): P.O. Box 7593 [email protected], www.richmondiww.org Postmaster: Send address Glasgow, G42 2EX. www.iww.org.uk 1062. [email protected] St. Louis IWW: P.O. Box 63142, 63163. stlwobbly@gmail. Flagstaff IWW: 206-327-4158, [email protected] com Washington changes to IW, Post Office Box ERA Officers, Departments, Committees Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): 970-903-8721, 4corners@ Montana Tacoma GMB: P.O. Box 7276, 98401. [email protected]. 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA Access Facilitator (disabilities issues): [email protected] iww.org Construction Workers IU 330: Dennis Georg, del., 406- http://tacoma.iww.org Communications Officer / Comms Dept Chair: communi- Arkansas 490-3869, [email protected] Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. 206-429- [email protected] Fayetteville: P.O. Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859. Billings: Jim Del Duca, 106 Paisley Court, Apt. I, Bozeman 5285. [email protected]. www.seattleiww.org, SUBSCRIPTIONS GLAMROC Liaison: [email protected] [email protected] 59715. 406-860-0331. [email protected] www.seattle.net Internal Bulletin: [email protected] Nebraska Wisconsin Individual Subscriptions: $18 California Madison GMB: P.O. Box 2442, 53701-2442. www. International Solidarity Committee: international@iww. Los Angeles GMB: (323) 374-3499. iwwgmbla@gmail. Nebraska GMB: P.O. Box 27811, Ralston, 68127. nebras- International Subscriptions: $30 org.uk com [email protected]. www.nebraskaiww.org madison.iww.org Library/Institution Subs: $30/year IUB 560 - Communications and Computer Workers: P.O. Literature Committee: [email protected] Sacramento IWW: 916-825-0873, iwwsacramento@ Nevada Box 259279, Madison 53725. 608-620-IWW1. Madiso- Union dues includes subscription. Membership Administrator: [email protected] gmail.com Reno GMB: P.O. Box 12173, 89510. Paul Lenart, del., [email protected]. www.Madisoniub560.iww.org Merchandise Committee: [email protected] San Diego IWW: 619-630-5537, [email protected] 775-513-7523, [email protected] Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson, Published monthly with the excep- San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buyback IU 53703. 608-255-1800. Jerry Chernow, del., jerry@ Organising and Bargaining Support Department: 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain Fabrics Job Shop IU 520 Railroad Workers: Ron Kaminkow, del., P.O. Box lakesidepress.org. www.lakesidepress.org tion of February and August. [email protected] and IU 410 Garment and Textile Worker’s Industrial 2131, Reno, 89505. 608-358-5771. ronkaminkow@ Research and Survey Department: [email protected] Organizing Committee; Shattuck Cinemas; Embarcadero yahoo.com Madison Infoshop Job Shop:1019 Williamson St. #B, / [email protected] Cinemas) P.O. Box 11412, Berkeley, 94712. 510-845- New Hampshire 53703. 608-262-9036 Articles not so designated do National Secretary: [email protected] 0540. [email protected] New Hampshire IWW: Paul Broch, del.,112 Middle St. #5, Just Coffee Job Shop IU 460: 1129 E. Wilson, Madison, IU 520 Marine Transport Workers: Steve Ongerth, del., Manchester 03101. 603-867-3680 . SevenSixTwoRevolu- 53703. 608-204-9011, justcoffee.coop not reflect the IWW’s Support for people having trouble with GoCardless [email protected] [email protected] Railroad Workers IU 520: 608-358-5771. railfalcon@ official position. signup: [email protected] yahoo.com IT Committee (all IT related enquiries): [email protected] Evergreen Printing: 2412 Palmetto Street, Oakland New Jersey 94602. 510-482-4547. [email protected] Central New Jersey GMB: P.O. Box 10021, New Brunswick, Milwaukee GMB: 1750A N Astor St., 53207. Trevor Training Department: [email protected] San Jose: [email protected], www.facebook. 08906. 732-692-3491. [email protected]. Bob Smith, 414-573-4992 Press Date: February 20, 2014 National Treasurer: [email protected] com/SJSV.IWW Ratynski, del., 908-285-5426. www.newjerseyiww.org Northwoods IWW: P.O. Box 452, Stevens Point, 54481 March 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 3 Readers’ Soapbox

ByA LowellReader’s May (X333295) Response To “Nonviolent Direct Action And The Earlydefense IWW” and offensive—the line between If Stephen Thornton’s article on the two is often obscure—requirements nonviolence in the early IWW (“Nonvio- of the situations, implemented by those lent Direct Action And The Early IWW,” directly under attack and not for the pur- December 2013 Industrial Worker, page pose of inflicting harm per se. There is a 11) was meant as an argument in favor of place for calculating the appropriate use of nonviolence being or becoming a “strat- force in hindsight; all our decisions should egy” (his term) of the IWW, it deserves a be informed by not just our immediate response. I am bound to say “if” because experience but also by that of our prede- it is not clear what the aim of the piece cessors. In other words, there is a role for is, whether he means nonviolence as an intellectuals and historians here. This kind overall strategy, to apply it to the IWW as of assessment is not limited to reviewers, an organization or to the class as a whole, however, our culture carries these kinds of or to identify a trend. Unfortunately, the lessons within it, available to those directly problem here could become more than Ludlow strikers tent colony, 1914. Photo: libcom.org involved, in real time, and sometimes ambiguity. Movement.” broke out. This one emanated from north- much more clearly than the analyses of First, we should rule out the possible But developing competing lists of ern Colorado, just 15 miles or so north of intellectuals. Sometimes the further we interpretation that nonviolence is or has examples doesn’t prove anything, except downtown Denver, and resulted in the Col- are away from the immediate situation been an overall union principle. If this were perhaps who is the best empiricist. The umbine Mine strike and massacre where the more likely we are to import distorting true without restriction, it would mean all point is that we should not involve our- state militia machine gunned dozens and biases into the process. In this case, and other matters, including considerations selves in ruling out tactical options, or murdered at least six picketing miners. I suspect many others, the IWW’s op- of class justice and the elimination of the suggesting that they are passé without ref- This strike was waged under the banner of position to the use of this violence would class system, would be subordinate to the erence to their impact on and response to the IWW and is the centerpiece of a book have placed it outside the struggle as it principle of nonviolence, which is anath- the complicated and unique conditions at which was published in 2005 by the IWW existed, and would have violated our real ema to everything the IWW has stood for hand and our overall strategy of workers’ and which I helped edit along with the late dedication to the most effective use of class in any of its manifestations. control. An example of such circumstances Fellow Worker Richard Myers. leverage to achieve power. Not only is the blanket rejection of out of our Colorado history might help. What the official histories of both In general it isn’t the use of violence non-violence true to our historical prin- In the early 1900s, Colorado was a Ludlow and Columbine (actually all part or the myth of a violent IWW that is at the ciples, it is also the right thing to do. While hotbed of class struggle, especially in the of a protracted miners’ struggle all up and heart of the matter any more than the em- conceding that it is our union’s job to be, mining industry, largely because coal down the Colorado Front Range) reveal is ployment of nonviolent tactics would be. to some degree, a leader in working-class and metals were becoming a huge part of that violence played a pivotal role in their Both are part of an arsenal of tactics that thought and conscience, it is also our re- developing imperialism, new technology, eventual success. At Ludlow in the south are available in life-and-death struggle and sponsibility to accept direction from the and new forms of manipulating workers and, 13 years later, at Columbine in the must be determined as conditions unfold. class. There is no class struggle that has in mass-oriented industrialization. Big north, it was organized workers’ militias In this case it was a series of accidents and not had violence as a factor, even if just as Bill Haywood, the Western Federation of that were key in forcing concessions from acts of courage—including the violent sei- a backdrop alternative. One of the clear- Miners and the IWW all had their roots in the bosses and the state. Organized work- zure of control of nearby towns—that on est examples is the story of the civil rights this development. In 1914, the resulting ers’ militias, along with the reputation of balance garnered sympathy and a popular movement as exemplified by Dr. Martin conflict made headlines when women and the IWW as a militant and perhaps violent feeling that, at least, the miners were justi- Luther King, Jr. Not only was King’s ef- children were slaughtered in the Ludlow union, are what led to the unionization of fied in responding in kind. It also served, fectiveness enhanced by the specter of Massacre, which triggered federal military the coal fields because that’s where the and if our Colorado Bread and Roses Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party, intervention and an imposed peace with struggles eventually led: to armed stand- Workers’ Cultural Center has anything to not only was King’s nonviolent doctrine some concessions to mineworkers. We offs between state militias and miners’ say about it, still serves as an inspiration eroded by his latter-year involvement are currently in the midst of a spate of militias (complete with military training to workers hungry to take control of their with opposition to the imperialist war 100-year commemorations of these events camps) which forced not only concessions lives, even by force if necessary, and a re- and the plight of workers in Memphis and statewide. but union representation as well. The coal minder that workers do not have to accept elsewhere, but we have also learned that In 1927, after the United Mine Work- capitalists chose to soften the blow by a ruling class monopoly on the use of force. King was shadowed by a force of defend- ers of America (UMW) had retreated from recognizing the UMW instead of the IWW. Details on these events are documented in ers who did not avoid violence, according the state in the wake of Ludlow and other The use or threat of violence was nei- our “Slaughter in Serene: the Columbine to Lance Hill’s “The Deacons for Defense: failed attempts to unionize the coal and ther pre-ordained nor pre-conceived on Coal Strike Reader,” available from the Armed Resistance and the Civil Rights hard rock mines, another statewide strike our side. It grew organically out of the self- IWW or online at http://www.workers- IWW Constitution Preamble breadandroses.org, and Scott Martelle’s The working class and the employing Join the IWW Today “Blood Passion: the Ludlow Massacre and class have nothing in common. There can he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the Class War in the American West.” be no peace so long as hunger and want job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions As always it’s important to view the are found among millions of working T today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and Colorado events in the context of the people and the few, who make up the em- distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire broader political and historical landscape. ploying class, have all the good things of population, not merely a handful of exploiters. The struggle of the early 1900s, from which life. Between these two classes a struggle We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially ­– the IWW sprouted, was a scene in transi- must go on until the workers of the world that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than dividing tion between the naked authoritarianism organize as a class, take possession of the workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. of feudal times and modern bourgeois rule. means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a This “new deal” rule was marked by the system, and live in harmony with the truly international union movement in order to confront the global power of the mythology of capitalism as a universal so- earth. bosses and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fel- lution to all woes, and policies that tended We find that the centering of the low workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. to subdue the class by a combination of management of industries into fewer and We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have fewer hands makes the trade unions un- repression and partial appeasement and representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- (thanks to the intriguing collaborative able to cope with the ever-growing power nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition of the employing class. The trade unions efforts of the “progressive” reform move- but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes foster a state of affairs which allows one ment in the United States and the state this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with set of workers to be pitted against another capitalist communists in the Comintern) set of workers in the same industry, an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. the establishment of the state as the over- thereby helping defeat one another in Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific arching mediator of capitalist domination. wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions workplace, or across an industry. It follows that a movement designed more aid the employing class to mislead the Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what is- toward capturing the hearts and minds of workers into the belief that the working sues to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. those deceived by this form of rule should class have interests in common with their become more prevalent, and with it, non- TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation employers. violence. But again, this is a tactical deci- and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 180195, Chicago, IL These conditions can be changed and sion, not a universal principle, based on 60618, USA. the interest of the working class upheld the fact that times change, time changes, Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated only by an organization formed in such and with them, tactics. according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues a way that all its members in any one We should, finally, applaud Thornton’s industry, or all industries if necessary, are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, emphasis on the role of women’s involve- cease work whenever a strike or lockout is dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues ment in struggle, but, again, we should on in any department thereof, thus mak- are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional add some balance to his references. We ing an injury to one an injury to all. Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). Instead of the conservative motto, “A dedicated a section of our book to the too- fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we __I affirm that I am a worker, and that I am not an employer. often unrecognized leadership of women must inscribe on our banner the revolu- __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. militants in mineworkers’ struggles. So tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage we noted the leadership of not only icons system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. like Mother Jones, who led marches of It is the historic mission of the work- Name:______mineworkers and their supporters on the ing class to do away with capitalism. The Address:______Colorado state capitol at the time, but also army of production must be organized, City, State, Post Code, Country:______on much less acknowledged militants like not only for the everyday struggle with Colorado’s “Flaming Milka” Sablich and capitalists, but also to carry on produc- Occupation:______Santa Benash, as well as others in Kansas, tion when capitalism shall have been Phone:______Email:______Illinois and beyond. overthrown. By organizing industrially Amount Enclosed:______Readers’ Soapbox continues on we are forming the structure of the new pages 10-11! society within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker. Page 4 • Industrial Worker • March 2014 Domestic Workers Organized In The IWW 100 Years Ago Submitted by F. N. Brill a great deal of time. Fellow Worker (FW) Jane Street’s If a girl decides to shorten hours on letter to Mrs. Elmer S. Bruse is one of the the job by refusing to work afternoons...as most profound pieces of IWW history. a rule her employer does not fire her until FW Street, of Denver, sent this letter to she secures another girl. She calls up an a domestic worker organizer in Tulsa, employment shark ...with the union office Okla., in 1917. It was stolen by federal in operation, no girl arrives. The employer agents and was only discovered in FBI advertises in the paper. We catch her ad files in 1976. and send out a girl who refuses to do the It shows how the IWW went about same thing. If you have a union of only four organizing a very marginalized section girls and you can get them consecutively of the working class. It also addresses on the same job you soon have job control. the sexism encountered by the Domestic However, it is necessary to have rebels Workers Industrial Union from other who will actually do these things on the IWW members. I’ve always been inspired job. by this letter because it has practical les- It is a hard matter to get girls outside sons for us today. I can see a similar ef- the organization to attend a meeting. fort being made in restaurants and other We have formulated no scale of hours workplaces, especially in medium-sized or wages, for the reason that we could not towns. enforce them. We are able however to raise We had to cut a great deal of the let- wages and shorten hours on individual ter for space. I encourage you to look at jobs by striking on the job and by system- http://www.iww.org for the full text. atic work at the office.

Letter to Mrs. Elmer S. Bruse Sexism within the IWW Your letter of the 28th received, also The Mixed Local [similar to a General the one of several weeks ago, which was Membership Branch] here in Denver has read at our business meeting with great done us more harm than any other enemy. applause. They have cut us off from donations from I am not so presumptuous as to sup- outside locals, slandered this local and pose that no method of organizing can be myself from one end of the country to the used successful with the domestic work- other...they gave our club house a bad ers than the one which was used here. name because they were not permitted to However, I can give you the benefit of my come out there, and finally they have as- experiences and observation in the work saulted me bodily and torn up our charter. here and the conclusions at which we have At present we are without due[s] arrived. stamps and without membership books. My method [of organizing] was very Meanwhile the work of fighting the boss tedious. I worked at housework for three goes merrily on. We have taken in about months, collecting names all the while. 28 new members since our charter was When I was off of a job I rented a room destroyed. and put an ad in the paper for a house- I am telling you about this, not because maid. Sometimes I used a box number I think there will come a time when you and sometimes I used my address. The ad will profit by my experiences, but because was worded something like this, “Wanted, we need the support of the IWW every Housemaid for private family, $30, eight place. hours daily.” I would write them letters What I am telling you is not merely afterwards and have them call and see me a personal matter with me...but now this ... Sometimes I would engage myself to as opposition has spread not only in this many as 25 jobs in one day, promising to local but to all domestic workers’ locals. call the next day to everyone that phoned. For a domestic workers’ local to spring up I would collect the information secured in anywhere and achieve success is a monu- this way. If any girl wanted any of the jobs, ment to their treachery and false prophecy she could go out and say that they called against us. her up the day before. I am so sorry to tell you of these things. I secured 300 names in this way. I I have tried to keep out of this letter the had never mentioned the IWW to any of bitterness that surges up in me. But when them, for I expected them to be prejudiced, one looks upon the slavery on all sides that which did not prove the case. I picked out enchain the workers—these women work- 100 of the most promising...and sent them ers sentenced to hard labor and solitary invitations to attend a meeting. There were confinement on their prison jobs in the about 35 came. Thirteen of the 35 signed homes of the rich—and these very men the application for a charter. So don’t get who forgot their IWW principles in their discouraged. opposition to us—when we look about us, We have been organized [for] about we soon see that the Method of Emancipa- one year. In this time we have interviewed tion that we advocate is greater than any or personally in our office about 1,500 or all of us and that the great principles and 2,000 girls...placing probably over 1,000 ideals that we stand for can completely in jobs. We have on our books the names overshadow the frailties of human nature. of 155 members, only about 83 of whom Stick to your domestic workers’ union, we can actually call members. fellow worker, stick to it with all the per- sistence and ardor that there is in you. How they organized Every day some sign of success will thrill However, we have got results. We have your blood and urge you on! Keep on with raised wages, shortened hours, bettered the work. Graphic: Mike Konopacki conditions in hundreds of places. For in- stance, if you want to raise a job from $20 Jane Street, Sec. of the Denver IWW to $30…you can have a dozen girls answer Domestic Workers Industrial Union Subscribe to the Industrial Worker an ad and demand $30—even if they do Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription. not want work at all. Or call up the woman P.S. We are having some interesting and tell her you will accept the position at times collecting bills. There is a lawyer Give a gift that keeps your family or friends thinking. $20. Then she will not run her ad the next here who has volunteered his services. day. Don’t go. Call up the next day and ask Most of our bills are settled out of court. Get 10 issues of working class news and views for: • US $18 for individuals. for $25 and promise to go (and don’t go). In compiling information on jobs it is • US $30 for library/institutions. On the third day she will say, “Come on well to put the name and business of the • US $30 for international subscriptions. out and we will talk the matter over.” You employer’s husband on the card. To send Name: ______can get not only the wages, but shortened a business man a “dun” bearing the IWW Address:______hours and lightened labor as well. seal is to become a first class bill collector. We keep a record of every job adver- This will help you to get girls to do delegate City/State/Province:______tised in every paper. As when they adver- work. Such a girl boosts the union to the Zip/Postal Code:______tise in the papers, a girl can go out to them skies. Send this subscription form to: without their knowing that she is in the You must open your employment Industrial Worker Subscriptions, IWW at all. We make a note of the wages, office to all domestic workers regardless PO Box 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA the size of the family and the house, etc. To of whether they join or not, if you would give girls this information is to save them cripple the employment sharks. Subscribe to the Industrial Worker today! March 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 5 Wobbly & North American News NYC Wobblies Are Busting Loose A Tale Of Two Trainings By X362865 By Transcona Slim in order to pass it on to the On Saturday, Feb. The IWW’s Organizer next level up within the 8, the New York City Training 101 (OT101) is union. Then, as the height General Membership fundamentally different of ridiculousness, our next Branch (NYC GMB) from any of the union task was to go to local gro- held a successful fun- trainings I’ve ever partici- cery store to fan out and draiser in Brooklyn, pated in with my business get information on the making double its union. people working there! Can financial goal. Ap- In 2010, I went to the you imagine a group of 20 proximately 150 com- United Food and Com- youth from out of town or rades joined branch mercial Workers’ (UFCW) even out of province going members to discuss Prairies Youth Activist Re- to a store all at once? We working-class power treat. It was five days long were instructed to pay re- NYC Wobs dance the night away. Photo: Eric Dirnbach in NYC, including ac- and held in a smaller vaca- ally close attention to the tions of solidarity for the workers of Amy’s New York Police Department at an OWS tion town in Manitoba. We workers there as well as to Bread. The merchandise table proved action that left her battered and seizing on spent the first two days Graphic: Winnipeg IWW ask them questions about popular with plenty of sales of Wob books, a sidewalk. Branch members and activist learning the UFCW ver- Winnipeg IWW OT101 flyer. what they did and how t-shirts, and “One Big Blend” coffee from comrades will be standing in solidarity sion of labor history and why we needed to they liked it. Of course the bosses found IWW co-op Just Coffee. The evening fea- with her in court throughout her trial. vote for the New Democratic Party (NDP). out right away and they called the police. tured four great and diverse bands: Lobby The NYC GMB thanks Cecily, the We had a provincial NDP functionary (the Cops escorted these young organizers off Art NYC, O’ Great North, No One and the bands, and all who attended, for support- Minister of Justice) come and speak to us the property. It was a mess and I doubt Somebodies, and Gay Panic. ing this successful event. The proceeds of about “our” issues. Incidentally, he side- that anything productive ever came of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) activist this event will help the branch continue its stepped my question about why the NDP the activity. Cecily McMillan opened her home to us for work organizing the workers of NYC. The cancelled the university tuition freeze. These tactics are fundamentally differ- this fundraiser. On March 3, Cecily will go branch invites all workers to its monthly We were told that, because of elections in ent from how the IWW operates and how on trial in Manhattan Criminal Court for meeting held the first Sunday of each Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we might the IWW trains its rank-and-file organiz- her activism, facing a possible seven years month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 45-02 be expected to act as volunteers for the ers. The IWW, through role-playing in in jail. The charges against Cecily stem 23rd Street, 2nd Floor, Long Island City, NDP’s electoral campaigns and that the its trainings, helps to empower workers from a March 17, 2012 encounter with the N.Y., 11101. skills we learned were going to be put into themselves. Our goal isn’t to pass off infor- that project. mation to another layer of the union who Proof Of Walmart’s Union Busting The next day was the structure of the does the work for us. The IWW doesn’t sizes that you can share Canadian labor movement and a half-day see signing cards or being the official cer- your “union experi- explanation of why Walmart is terrible tified bargaining unit in a workplace as ences.” The document (seriously, like half a day dedicated to the ultimate goals of an organizing drive. also tells to look for how terrible Walmart is). The next day Our definition of a union is fundamentally “warning signs” such focused on contract negotiation. We split different. One learns in the OT101 that a as “associates” having into two teams and tried to play the roles union is “two or more workers coming union representatives of employees and employers. It was the together to change something in their show up at their house only role-play in the week, and it forced workplace or industry” and not a state- or complaining about half of the workers to identify as bosses. mandated collective bargaining unit. We work-related problems. Of course, no one wanted to play the role role-play talking to our co-workers, and The Walmart docu- of the boss because we were all snarky since the people we are going through ment calls for complete youth attending a union activist training OT101 are our co-workers, it’s much more loyalty to the company and thus we didn’t identify with the bosses. empowering and uplifting. Graphic: politicalblindspot.com and management on We didn’t take this activity, seriously and After a week at UFCW youth activist By John Kalwaic behalf of its “associates.” This document the “bosses’” only offer was “de-certify retreat, all I felt that I got from it was On Jan. 17, Anonymous “hacktivists” was leaked in the wake of Walmart being the union and we will give you a $10 raise a week of drinking and a paid vacation leaked an internal document from the on trial for making its delivery truckers or don’t decertify and we will negotiate a (which was fine, because as a minimum Walmart corporation about how to bust work off the clock and denying workers contract with the CLAC [Christian Labour wage retail worker, I didn’t actually get unions. The document insists in reporting legally-required overtime pay. To many Association of Canada] to lower your paid vacations). union activity to their “Labor Relations labor activists these revelations come as wages.” It was a pointless exercise. After a two-day IWW OT101, I feel Team,” and warns about talks of union no surprise, but it is important that these The final day was the “organizer empowered to go out and organize. membership. The leaked document ex- internal documents be released. training” day. After the whole “why we Transcona Slim is a dual-card member plains what is legal and illegal to ask em- With files from http://political- organize” spiel, we were told that our job of the IWW and UFCW, currently working ployees according to labor law, but empha- blindspot.com and https://aattp.org. as organizers was to go find information in the retail and education industries. The Challenges Of Administering Misery In The Two New York Cities By A. Worker way things were done under the arch- The background for our tale is the neoliberal prince Michael Bloomberg, story of a more laborious problem: class. they only offer us nominal ameliorations This appears as a specter haunting the of inequalities, the better to preserve Dickensian narrative emphasizing in- inequality. equalities within the city which Mayor Luckily, “expectation” does not equal Bill de Blasio used during his campaign. “fate.” We can act to change the course But it also appears in the impending re- of things. We are in a particularly strong negotiation of municipal labor contracts position to do so at the current time, and the broadening social recognition which brings us back to the working that “stop and frisk” is criminal, as is class. The city has a number of issues the entire regime of mass incarceration. on the class front: the fast-food strikes, All of the city’s unions are currently the renegotiation of union contracts, the working under expired contracts. More legal recognition of the need to end the gravely, the city’s housing projects (in terror inflicted on residents of public poor districts) and the prisons are full housing and other socially neglected of people who are treated as a surplus zip codes. What is the working class population, ghetto residents whose “con- prepared to do? General strike? Riot? tracts” with the city desperately need to Photo: Diane Krauthamer Demand the release of our brothers and be renegotiated. The strategy of de facto people expect changes after the 25-year in the press coverage of her appointment sisters from the prisons? Demand the eviction through police terror and starva- neoliberal Dark Age in the city’s politics and the United Federation of Teachers’ end of the starvation of our communi- tion has failed. that began in 1989. Will de Blasio deliver pragmatic silence, there is a record of ties? For the last 25 years, New York City that change or be an obstacle to it? Carmen Fariña’s activities preserved in A mass strike is the only rational has been two cities: a city of dreams for Indices of the character of the de the memories of all rank-and-file teachers. response. Insofar as the working class— financiers and real estate operators and a Blasio administration are available for She was an all-too-compliant appointee of from the homeless freezing beneath a lawless police state for the working class. all who would look: the appointment of the Bloomberg and Klein apparatus. She is bed of newspapers to the wage slave Now the workers and the poor demand Bill Bratton as police commissioner and famous for inventing an intense terrorist chasing the clock through a fairly well- a new city. One where they will not be of Carmen Fariña as Schools Chancellor managerial style (the “gotcha” mentality), padded nightmare—shows itself as being starved, imprisoned, and gunned down, give a disturbing premonition of the way lording her power over her subordinates prepared for a mass strike, we can see the one where they will have dignity on the the city’s human capital will be managed like a high school bully surrounding her- birth of a hospitable world. One where streets and on the job. in the coming years. self with a pack of sycophants and lashing we don’t let each other starve, where our The Tale of Two Cities that de Blasio Bratton’s distinguished record as a out against the losers. And she is infamous friends and neighbors will be emancipat- used to channel the people of New York racist and apologist for police murder is for her embezzlement of funds and other ed from racist prisons, where our parents City into the voting booths is for them the not easily forgotten, nor is his pet theory criminalities. The list goes on… and friends will no longer work full time tale of the Restoration City of the last 25 of broken windows policing and his role What, then, can we expect? Neoliberal- and still have to beg the bosses’ state for years in contrast with the new city that as an architect of the “stop and frisk” ism 2.0: neoliberalism without neoliber- food stamps, where our “bosses” will no they demand in order to live with dig- policies that terrorize the ghettoes. And als. Although the de Blasio administration longer have the power to enslave us with nity—to live at all in many cases. These despite the near-total amnesia reflected has claimed to offer changes from the clocks and statistical tables. Page 6 • Industrial Worker • March 2014 Special Rosa Luxemburg: A True Revolutionary By Staughton Lynd promised each other that, if the nations of where Bolsheviks and Menshe- Rosa Luxemburg is the most signifi- Europe were to declare war, there would viks wrangled with one another, cant woman in the history of revolutionary be an international general strike. Long Russian workers in city after city activity. For those of us seeking to create a before World War I, she foresaw the timid, set that vast nation on fire with a synthesis of Marxism and anarchism, she bureaucratic mindset that would cause spreading, spontaneous general is also the most significant individual— German Social Democratic representatives strike. Moreover, it was an insur- man or woman—in that tradition. in the national legislature, like almost all rectionary uprising with objec- It is appropriate to remember her on their counterparts in the national legis- tives that were political as well International Women’s Day. If I am not latures of other European countries, to as intellectual. She described all mistaken, it was Luxemburg’s friend and vote for taxes in support of that country’s this in detail in a book that every colleague Clara Zetkin who first proposed war effort. Wobbly should read and re-read that there be such a day. Vladimir Lenin, too, condemned the called “The General Strike.” And apart from who said what when, treason of Social Democracy and took up Luxemburg was surely the guardian spirit agitation to turn the war, in every bellig- Imprisonment & death of the female textile workers who went out erent nation, into a civil war to overthrow The German government onto the streets of St. Petersburg (now capitalism. Those who shared this position threw Luxemburg in prison be- Leningrad) on International Women’s came to be called Communists. cause of her opposition to the war Day, 1917, and began the Russian Revo- But Luxemburg and Lenin had funda- and to the German war effort. Her lution. mental differences. Toward the end of the prison letters are extraordinary. It seems that there were male radicals 1890s Lenin had been arrested and sent When released from her cell for on the scene who told the women not to Siberia. Joined by his wife, Krupskaya, brief periods in which she might to demonstrate because it would be too the two spent their mornings translating walk in a small courtyard, she was dangerous. books on trade unionism by Sidney and careful not to crush the structures The women disregarded this advice. Beatrice Webb. made by ants and other burrow- Emptying the textile factories, they The Webbs wrote about England, and, ing insects. marched to locations outside the metal- since England was the most industrially Meantime in Russia, the Bol- working plants where most of the work- developed economy of the time, Lenin saw sheviks under Lenin’s leadership ers were men and called out, “Come on, in what the Webbs described the future of had called for “all power to the Rosa Luxemburg. Photo: controappuntoblog.org you guys! What are you doing in there? his own country, Russia. The Webbs de- soviets” and overthrown the Czar. From she naively inquired. They shot her, and Join us!” scribed the evolution of trade unionism in the isolation of her prison cell, Luxemburg threw her body into a canal. The authorities sent out Cossacks, po- England from decentralized efforts char- wrote a series of remarkable critiques of licemen on horseback, to ride the women acterized by “primitive democracy” and what was going on in Russia. Fundamen- A true revolutionary down. In his “History of the Russian Revo- hatred of what William Blake called the tally in solidarity with what Russian work- Barely five feet tall, walking with a lution,” Leon Trotsky describes what hap- “Satanic mills” into nationwide bureaucra- ers, peasants, and soldiers had brought perpetual limp because of a childhood hip pened. The women, young and old, with- cies happy to make their peace with capi- about, she nonetheless begged them to re- disorder, a Jew, a woman, and, during her out weapons of any kind, approached the talism if their members might be provided member that “Freiheit ist immer Freiheit political life and at her death, a refugee; riders on their excited horses. Extending with improved wages and benefits. Lenin fuer den andersdenkenden” (“Freedom is Rosa Luxemburg may well be the most their arms imploringly, the women called dreaded that Russian workers, as well, always freedom for the person who thinks significant theorist of the 20th century out: “Don’t ride us down! Our husbands, would follow the English example and cre- differently”). labor movement. brothers, sons, who are at the front, are ate self-interested, apolitical trade unions. Luxemburg was released from prison The working class self-activity that just like you! We all want peace, bread, He concluded that only if a “vanguard” at the end of the war in November 1918. In Rosa Luxemburg chronicled, praised, and and land!” party of radical intellectuals persistently her first public address after she was freed, advocated has recurred since her death The Cossacks were ordered three times spread left-wing political ideas among the Luxemburg said that some changes might in many places: Italy in the early 1920s, to ride through the women. Three times workers would a Russian revolution be have to wait until after the revolution, but Spain and the United States in the 1930s, they refused. Six months later, countless possible. And he said so, upon his return something Germany should do right away France in 1968, Poland in the first flush of soldiers at the front lines would “vote with from Siberia, in a booklet entitled “What was to abolish capital punishment. Polish Solidarity, and elsewhere. It usually their feet” and come back to the cities to Is To Be Done?” published in 1902. Workers’ and soldiers’ soviets sprang happens locally and perhaps especially help overthrow the Czar. Luxemburg disagreed! She perceived up all over Germany. Misunderstanding among women (think of Walentynowicz Lenin as a man with many good ideas but what was going on, Luxemburg’s colleague and Pienkowska at the Gdansk shipyard). Early life secretive, manipulative and distrustful of Karl Liebknecht prematurely called for a No one can be sure what the future Luxemburg was born in Poland. She ordinary workers. She said Lenin had the revolutionary uprising. significance of such activity will be. We moved to Germany and became the fiery “soul of an overseer.” Appalled, Luxemburg nevertheless can try to nurture in quiet times the hori- spokesperson for socialists opposed to the The Russian Revolution of 1905 ap- remained in Berlin. zontal, decentralized organizational forms “reformism” of German socialist leaders. peared to vindicate Luxemburg. While A gaggle of counter-revolutionary based on solidarity, which, as Luxemburg Like these leaders, Luxemburg attended the “vanguard” of Russian socialists made thugs came to the place where she was liv- showed, may explode from within the socialist conferences at which delegates their way to meetings in foreign countries ing. “To what prison are you taking me?” working class in moments of crisis. Being A Woman Organizer Isn’t Easy Continued from 1 they often compromise with their families One way to start facing this struggle is nal del Trabajo and Federación Anarquista socialize me to fulfill my expected female to not be disowned. There are some who by sharing our personal experience with Ibérica that faced gender inequality. They role. I was taught not to engage in mas- are able to fight against the current, but one another and recognizing the prob- were able to grow in numbers and seize the culine activities such as sports, academia, consequentially, they are insulted, stigma- lems we deal with today. We cannot keep power to fight in the forefront of the Span- politics, and other fields where men are tized and can sometimes go on to develop denying and repressing our frustration of ish Revolution. This could be achieved present. Unfortunately for them, I refused depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. gender inequality. It needs to be released. today if we place our hearts and minds to to obey their standards of femininity. I I myself have experienced such emotional How can we expect to create a social revo- it. Many of us might say that our current have played sports since I was 10 years meltdowns and still do. I recov- lution when we rarely lay our per- social setting and capacity will make that old; I grew a deep interest in history, ered from depression in 2013 sonal tribulations on the table? impossible, but how would we know if we sociology and political science; and I am after receiving therapy for over I know it is hard to discuss the have not tried yet? This is why I encourage currently part of three political projects. six months, and I am currently issues we face at home, at work all revolutionary women to stop second- Such behavior has frustrated my parents battling with social anxiety and or within political circles. It is guessing themselves and fight. Let’s end to the point that I am insulted daily. My low self-esteem. Nevertheless, even difficult for me to write this the silence now and begin to form the mother will claim that I am manly, selfish I still manage to maintain my article, but we need to stop letting solidarity that is needed. for devoting more time to organizing and integrity and will continue to do Graphic: djovenes.org barriers obstruct us. I remember I promiscuous because the political groups so to keep fighting. was petrified when I initially spoke about Subscribe to the I am involved with consist mostly of men. Hearing the stories and witnessing the my personal problems with a comrade. My father will state that I am senseless sorrow of all the women who are blatant I thought she would not understand me Industrial Worker for wasting my time in politics and should victims of patriarchy has inspired me to and would think I was annoying her, but Educate yourself and your devote more time in preparing myself to keep moving forward as an organizer. after exposing my story, I soon realized fellow workers with the official become a decent wife and mother. Watching my mother be passive with my she faced the same hardships and abuse newspaper of the IWW. Throughout my 20 years residing father, witnessing my sisters being forced too and was sympathetic to my situation. in Miami, I met women from various to display undesirable traits, and watching This really transformed my life because I Just mail in this form, countries. In school, at work as a certified the tears women have shed after sharing thought I always had to wait to talk to my or visit us online at: nursing assistant, and in politics, I have their unfortunate stories of living under therapist about these dilemmas, but I was http://store.iww.org/industrial-worker.html met women from Nicaragua, Honduras, the oppressive rule of male figures has completely wrong. There are people out to subscribe today! Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, allowed me to turn anger into energy de- there who are willing to listen and provide 10 issues for: Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, voted to creating a society where women support; it is up to us to reach out to them. • US $18 for individuals. • US $30 for institutions. Haiti, Jamaica, Nepal and the Philippines are no longer oppressed. I am tired of hav- I came to understand that gender issues • US $30 for internationals. who share similar stories. Each one of ing to face gender inequality and watch- still exist and that my hardships are real. Name: ______them revealed how they are oppressed at ing women fall into its traps. We cannot Through simple actions like talking and Address:______home. They are forced to conform to gen- continue to neglect this issue and endure building relationships, I believe we can State/Province:______der roles and follow traditional standards these obstacles alone. As revolutionary form a collective of people willing to create Zip/PC______of being a woman. Some have tried to women, we must take these matters seri- tactics to abolish such oppression. This is Send to: PO Box 180195, deviate from those roles, yet the pressure ously and find strategies and solutions to how Mujeres Libres formed and created a Chicago IL 60618 USA Subscribe Today! from their loved ones is so powerful that overcome them. tendency within the Confederación Nacio- March 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 7 Special Toward Equal Employment For Women By Jane LaTour County and Municipal gender discrimination equivalent—no experience required. These Now that March Madness—and Wom- Employees (AFSCME). regarding the payment salaries are double those offered for the en’s History Month—are upon us, we I wrote many articles of wages. But another average clerical worker in New York City. pause for a look at the distance women based on interviews with important act got little A recent study released by the In- have traveled since the Civil Rights Act, women working as civil attention while cele- stitute for Women’s Policy Research with its Title VII provisions for equal em- servants. These stories brating its 40th anni- charted occupational segregation since ployment, became law in 1964. As I wrote described the lives of versary—the Women the 1970s. It showed that young women in “Sisters in the Brotherhoods: Working women struggling to pay in Apprenticeship and are now less likely to work in the same Women Organizing for Equality,” “[W] their bills, support their Nontraditional Occu- jobs as men. While “[w]omen continue to omen today enjoy many gains won by families, find child care pations Act (WANTO). enter some high-paying male-dominated Graphic: Mike Konopacki the barrier-busting advocates for gender without bankrupting the In July 2012, the U.S. professions, for example, rising from 4.0 equality. Little girls today grow up think- family budget, getting the kids off to school Department of Labor awarded $1.8 to 32.2 percent of lawyers between 1972 ing they might pilot an airplane; or travel in the morning, getting to work on time so million in grants to improve women’s and 2009, overall progress has stalled into space like astronauts Mae Jemison that they could keep the jobs that afforded participation in apprenticeships such as since 1996. Slowing progress, women or Sally Ride; conquer scientific frontiers; them health benefits, and at the same time, advanced manufacturing, transportation, continue to dominate professions tradi- play professional basketball on the court at absorbing all of the vitriol that’s been construction and new and emerging green tionally done by women, which typically Madison Square Garden; or argue a case spreading across the country—in small occupations. Four decades—and yet the pay less, accounting for over 95 percent before the U.S. Supreme Court. Report towns and large; in rural and metropolitan option of women training for and gaining of all kindergarten teachers, librarians, on that Court—or the N.B.A. [National areas—about our so-called greedy, lazy access to work in blue-collar skilled “non- dental assistants, and registered nurses Basketball Association]—for the New public sector workers. traditional” fields (less than 25 percent of in 2009…Most troubling, young women York Times.” How are these women doing? The the total number employed in that field) is experience more segregation today than We’re a far cry from the days when membership of DC 37 hasn’t had a raise still marginal and almost invisible. Despite they did a decade ago; since 2002, their newspapers ran classified ads in sex- in five-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, rents legislation such as WANTO and litigation, Index of Dissimilarity has worsened by segregated columns and brilliant future have risen; the cost of riding New York scores of court cases brought by women 6 percent, erasing nearly one-fifth of the jurists like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, despite City’s subways and buses keeps rising, as and women’s rights advocacy groups, improvement since 1968.” academic records of excellence, had dif- does the cost of food. And for much of that progress on this front is minimal. What are some of the barriers that ficulty finding employment at law firms. time, the city under former Mayor Michael One of my favorite illustrations of the endure and keep the numbers of women The road to greater gender equality was R. Bloomberg’s administration was saber- difference and the economic consequences working in the blue-collar jobs so low? built by the actions of individual activ- rattling about union members needing to of entering fields traditionally dominated One of the biggest is harassment: private ists—acting collectively. “Equal: Women contribute more to the cost of their health by men goes like this: or public sector, this is a topic that never Reshape American Law” by Fred Strebeigh care coverage. As I interviewed mothers, “Remember when you were a teenager fails to get coverage. Stories of extreme tells one aspect of this story. After the loss I liked to ask them what time they had to and your very first job was as a babysitter? harassment of women working in the of draft deferments during the Vietnam get up in the morning to get their kids out You were 16-years-old and you found that blue-collar “nontraditional” jobs show War, which resulted in plummeting en- on time; how far they had to travel to get taking care of two kids sure wasn’t easy. that misogyny persists. There is a constant rollments, law schools began admitting everybody where they were going—to day- To make sure that all was safe and sound, stream of documentation about workplace women in large numbers. Once inside, care, school, or work, and what time they the parents would telephone you and ask discrimination endured by these women. women challenged the culture in the class- got to bed at night—before starting out if everything was okay.” In “Sisters,” there’s a whole section that room, then the employment process, and all over again the next day. In short, I was “Meanwhile your brother was mowing looks at city agencies. One focuses on the finally the law—bringing their arguments able to describe the conditions and small the lawn or cleaning out the garage and city’s Board of Education, where the car- to challenge unequal practices before the economies of everyday living as a public getting paid twice as much as you were. penter Ann Jochems, the lone female, was Supreme Court. In the legal profession, sector worker in New York City. And for what? You had two children on sexually harassed to an extreme degree for the fact that women were able to reach a Over and over, the stories turned out your hands and the worst he could do was 16 years. Over time, the numbers of trades- critical mass and move beyond that point to be familiar: women on shoe-string run over the azaleas with his lawn mower!” women working in city agencies—craft enabled an activist generation—as well as budgets, borrowing from Peter to pay “If you had an experience like this, take jobs that pay the prevailing rate with the women who followed in that tradition—to Paul, as the expression goes; living with notice. You are beginning to understand private sector—have been dismal. have a significant impact on institutions the stresses and consequences of low- what the movement for PAY EQUITY FOR A quick look at data provides a ref- and policy. wage jobs in one of the countries most WOMEN is all about!” erence point: at the Division of School Many excellent histories explore vari- expensive metropolitan areas. These are This scenario was written by the AF- Facilities (DSF), which is where Jochems ous aspects of the women’s movement and the everyday heroes who contribute to SCME Women’s Department in 1978. Back worked, “a breakdown from 2003 to 2006 the organizing that led to massive social their communities, raise their children, then, AFSCME was a leader in the move- indicates the number by trade, title, and changes—for men and for women. Ruth and live invisible lives in an America which ment for equal pay and comparable worth. gender. However, surprisingly, the DSF Rosen’s “The World Split Open: How the provides excessive financial rewards to the AFSCME’s lawyer, Winn Newman, took does not track these employees by race. In Modern Women’s Movement Changed rich, while impugning the people whom the lead on these cases in the public sector. 2003, there were five tradeswomen: one America” (2000); “A Strange Stirring: Mitt Romney referred to as “the takers.” His work is featured in books like “Rights carpenter, one electrician, one machinist, The Feminine Mystique and American These stories shed light on the reality of at Work: Pay Equity Reform and the one plumber, and one steamfitter helper. Women at the Dawn of the 1960s” by the lives of ordinary working-class women. Politics of Legal Mobilization.” The face During fiscal years 2004 and 2005, there Stephanie Coontz (2011); Nan Robertson’s Back in 2010, when some of these of AFSCME’s leadership was male—and were four tradeswomen. Fiscal year 2006 “Girls in the Balcony: Women, Men, and interviews were conducted, U.S. Census the members working in the higher paid saw an improvement: six tradeswomen— The New York Times” (1992); and Susan Bureau information showed the highest blue-collar jobs were male too. But slowly, two electricians, one carpenter, one ma- Brownmiller’s “In Our Time: Memoir of overall poverty rate, 15 percent, since 1993. women began to enter those jobs. As this chinist, one plumber, and one steamfitter. a Revolution” (1999), are at the top of But the poverty rate for single-mother author wrote in “Sisters in the Brother- Working in isolation, they are often targets my list for illumination. Yet, despite all families was an outrageous 41 percent. A hoods,” “At the first New York Women’s for harassment and gender discrimination. of the gains documented in these books study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Trade Union Conference in January 1974, One by one and two by two, they take up and other scholarship, true equality is Research, “Women at Greater Risk of Margie Albert made an argument about their high-paid, skilled positions in city still elusive. While this is true even in the Economic Insecurity,” showed that women male-female pay differentials and the agencies, still operating on the frontier of lives of highly accomplished professional of color were at greatest risk of economic power of a union to boost women’s pay- gender equality.” women, the barriers to equality are much hardship and that single mothers face checks: ‘There is no God-given law that In February 2011, a group of female more dramatic, with more devastating double jeopardy—lower earnings because says a secretary is making ‘good money’ bridge painters won their bias suit against consequences, in the lives of working-class they are female and higher financial stress when she earns $180 a week while a sani- New York City. Not only did the city’s women. from the costs of raising children. tation worker in New York City is earning Transportation Department discriminate In certain instances, Hollywood suc- One possible solution to what social entry-level pay at considerably over that. by hiring men only, but it allowed the men ceeds in giving currency to the lives of scientists once termed “the feminization of The difference is clear. He’s organized in a to “operate like a ‘boys club’ where lewd women working, not in courtrooms or op- poverty” is to get women out of the female powerful union. We are hopelessly divided sexual images and cartoons were displayed erating rooms (medicine: another field that job ghettos. “Looking back to the 1970s, in most offices. Women need unions!’ But at their lockers.” The message that goes out has opened up to women since Title VII), economic evidence was accumulating another argument was looming. Why were from cases like this is that women are not but in the lower-paid precincts, of which underscoring the point that concentrating all the sanitation workers in New York welcome. Only very tough, thick-skinned there are many. “Frozen River” (2008) is 85 percent of women into a narrow range City men?” individuals need apply. one such film. It perfectly captures the life of employment categories—the economist You can follow the stories of the pub- Getting to critical mass in this realm of a woman struggling to survive on the Paul Samuelson’s ‘female job ghetto’—led lic sector female pioneers going into the would require many changes. As long as wages of a part-time discount store clerk. to a dampening effect on their wages. blue-collar jobs over the decades online women are invisible in these jobs; as long The movie puts you inside the skin of this Research by economists Heidi Hartmann, in the PEP…the first women who became as little girls don’t learn about or see any newly-single mother, forced to make har- Barbara Bergmann, and Barbara Reskin, Sewage Treatment Workers and Highway role models—don’t ever spot a woman on rowing choices in order to survive—to pay among others, made occupational segrega- Repairers—women who poured concrete a fire truck or see a female plumber—as her bills and feed her children—alongside tion a hot topic. Their work on the signifi- and paved roads, who fixed guard rails, long as sexism is allowed to run rampant; that of another woman, a Native American. cance of sex segregation in the workplace who did the jobs referred to as “men’s as long as agencies and the trade unions The film shows the two mothers making described the many factors—cultural, so- work”—and got paid for it. And what a do not make the issue a priority—then common cause to face the bleak economic cial, and institutional—that together added difference that could make in the life of the problem of non-representation will landscape where shrinking opportunities up to preserving the female job ghetto. a working woman: the base pay in 2012 remain. Women may have “come a long present enormous challenges. During the 1970s, ‘59 cents to every man’s for a Sewage Treatment Worker in New way baby,” but in the blue-collar skilled For more than a decade, beginning dollar’ became a common refrain.” Today, York City was $73,000. In California, the jobs and on many other fronts, they still in 2002, I had the privilege of writing we’re up to 77 cents for every man’s dollar. equivalent salary for a Wastewater Plant have a long way to go. There is much to about public sector workers for the Public The ongoing attempt to pass the Operator Trainee ranged from $61,500 to be done to get to real equal employment Employee Press (PEP), the newspaper Paycheck Fairness Act has focused a lot $71,184—with benefits. This is a job that opportunity. And, as the historian Laurel published by District Council 37 (DC of media attention on the Equal Pay Act, provides union benefits for applicants Thatcher Ulrich observed: “Well-behaved 37) of the American Federation of State, a strategy that would revise remedies for having completed the 12th grade, or its women seldom make history.” Page 8 • Industrial Worker • March 2014 Special Addressing Sexual Violence In The IWW By Madaline Dreyfus and instead of taking her tion around other issues, organizers to keep a watchful eye on inter- Recently, within our union, the issue (with consent) to the hos- meaningful connections actions that seem like they could become of sexual assault and rape of women mem- pital or police station for a with others, and solidar- coercive or violent, and provides capable bers has been proposed to be a primary rape kit, we “dealt” with it ity, all of which may help point-people who could handle the report cause of the women leaving the IWW. As ourselves first and physi- that worker to survive an of an assault reasonably and promptly. a member of the Edmonton General Mem- cal evidence of the crime assault. We should ensure Additionally, all branch officers should be bership Branch (GMB) for nearly seven was lost? Or she wasn’t the worker guides all of provided with a brief guide for what to do years and a survivor of sexual assault, I able to obtain an abortion their interactions with if an assault is reported to them, including wanted to respond to what I perceive to and psychological coun- the perpetrator in order to numbers of hotlines, local hospitals, and be a disturbing discourse surrounding the seling from a qualified protect their physical and sexual assault centers in the area. issue of sexual violence against women. health provider in a timely emotional safety. Certainly, it seems clear that under I am doubtful that the failure to ad- way? Or her attacker was If individuals within no circumstances should men ever be dress sexual and gender-based violence a person within our com- the IWW know that it involved in interpreting, determining is the leading or even one of the leading munity, and she was en- is our policy not to turn priorities around, or writing legislation causes of women leaving the organization couraged to find shelter over cases of sexual as- for women’s issues. No matter how well- or campaigns. While I do think there are within that community sault to legal authorities meaning, these acts always serve to silence factors which contribute to women leaving instead of at a shelter? or outside organizations, women. While we may value male allies in that are rooted in androcentric and patri- Those are horrifying pos- we are creating spaces our fight, the fight is our own. We do not archal practice, I would absolutely not call sibilities. Whenever I hear where perpetrators are need male “enforcers” to protect women Graphic: Industrial Worker, Aug. 8, 1933 them violent in the vast majority of cases. suggestions of “direct ac- protected from the con- with macho violence, nor do we need male Not all patriarchal acts are acts of sexual tion” around issues of sexual assault, it be- sequences of these acts. Furthermore, “protectors” to publicize and act as experts violence, and by giving disproportionate comes clear that the consequences of this we are putting at risk the safety of both on our oppressions. It is important that attention to assault, we render many of the course of action have not been fully con- assault survivors and other members who while men and other non-female IWW everyday oppressions of female members sidered—and that is a far greater danger to may become involved in a conflict with the members should remain engaged in these invisible, and overlook other contributors women in our organization than anything offender. Restorative justice can be an em- discussions, and recognize that as union to gender imbalances in our union. we are doing now. It is very important that powering process for survivors and their members they will have a vote on any In conversations with other sister we are honest with members about our political communities, providing a way legislative changes, women should always workers, experiences which I know to have limited capacity to address sexual assault to move forward from destructive sexual remain the sole representatives of their directly contributed to women leaving or within our organization in order to ensure violence. It is important that engagement own concerns. reducing their involvement include: being that survivors make informed decisions in these processes be guided by individuals The first priority in all cases of sexual asked out by much older men, having men about whether to access other forms of who are knowledgeable, experienced, and assault should be the physical and mental enter their personal space in a way that support and do not feel as though they are supported by others with expertise, such health of the survivor, second the protec- made them feel vulnerable or unsafe, and betraying the union or their community’s as social workers, etc. tion of our members, followed finally by derogatory comments made about their principles in doing so. I have participated in several IWW the attending to the needs of the organiza- interests/capacity/value in the branch. Sexual assault is not an issue that meetings where sexual assault and policies tion. Rather than focusing on the actions Additionally, although much harder to can be addressed by direct action for one surrounding this issue were discussed for of the perpetrator, we must always address track, there are a large number of women clear reason: there is no “winnable de- extended periods of time. This particular physical harm to the survivor, much of who leave the union due to messy personal mand,” which is the key characteristic of practice is for me, and can be for others, which may not be immediately apparent; (not political–and I do differentiate) rela- any direct action we engage in. The only enormously triggering of difficult memo- internal injuries, shock, sexually transmit- tionships with other members. I attribute things that we could win back for a person ries, thoughts and emotions. While sur- ted infections, or pregnancy, for instance. much of this messiness to immaturity, who has been sexually victimized—their vivors are often very invested in the pro- It is AN INDIVIDUAL SURVIVOR’S unkindness and the inherent complexity self-worth, happiness, sense of safety, cesses we use to address sexual violence RIGHT to decide how she would like oth- of sexual and romantic relationships. I or physical health for instance—are not within our branch, making these subjects ers to respond to her assault, including think we need to intervene when conflict things that we can ever “win” for someone a regular topic of public discussion is a who is made aware of it, what treatment begins to affect the safety or continued else. We cannot erase what has happened practice that I strongly discourage. Given she consents to, and the response of her involvement of members, and in these and therefore we can only take revenge, that nearly a quarter of all women will ex- organization. Policies that encourage any cases I think we need to act proactively as which puts neither the survivor nor us perience sexual violence in their lifetime, type of “automatic” action, such as the often as possible. in a position of power. A worker runs the we need to be cognisant of the fact that expulsion of members accused of sexual There is always a need to be mind- risk of feeling terribly betrayed if these the practice of bringing these topics up in assault, are unhelpful and discourage ful of the enormous difference between unachievable aims are the goals of our public meetings may in fact be harmful to reporting of sexual violence. Aside from situations where we can exert personal organizing, because no matter what we the very group of individuals meant to be potentially drawing attention to an is- or organizational influence and easily win, it will never be a victory. empowered by it. sue that the survivor may wish to remain interrupt patriarchal behavior and cases Additionally, it’s important to imagine I don’t think we can underestimate confidential, the experience of the assault of sexual assault. While many of us are the possible danger if we “lose.” Any of us the complex processes that contribute to belongs to the survivor, not the organi- rightfully suspicious of state structures, who have been active organizers in the sexual violence, in our union or in society zation—and she should be empowered until we have the capacity to deal with all IWW know that any campaign loss can at large. The statistical truth is that strate- to make any decisions needed, with an aspects of sexual assault appropriately, be extremely difficult emotionally, even gies which rely heavily on punitive rather understanding that her organization will I believe the only responsible course of under the very best circumstances. Can than preventative strategies are unlikely to provide options and support. Where a action in the case of a report of sexual as- anyone take responsibility for pinning a be as successful as desired, in part because worker has had her right to consent vio- sault is to encourage and help survivors worker’s hope for recovery from sexual punitive strategies ensure that a sexual lated, we must not repeat the same crime to contact sexual assault support services assault on an organizing drive? Can we assault must occur before we can take ac- in addressing her assault. in their area, such as helplines, hospitals, inoculate against what might happen if we tion. For instance, statistics indicate that Discussions about the assault should police, sexual assault centers or mental lose, and the perpetrator has accomplished the vast majority of sexual assaults occur be directed by the survivor, and those health care. We simply do not have the or- a second victimization of the worker? Any when the perpetrator is impaired by drug confided in with these situations should ganizational resources or expertise at this conscientious organizer knows that we or alcohol consumption. be made aware of the need for confiden- point to assist survivors in the ways that must never raise the stakes so high. A simple practice which has the po- tiality. Sexual assault is a form of disem- are necessary to prevent awful outcomes, This is not to say that a worker who tential to reduce the risk of sexual vio- powerment that cannot simply be reversed such as re-victimization, unwanted pub- has been sexually assaulted, at work or lence, although far less glamorous than through collective action. We cannot undo licity, exposing them to further sexual or otherwise, should not be involved in an or- violent retaliation, is for IWW branches the violence which has been done to sur- domestic violence from the same offender, ganizing campaign, if they feel able to be. It to be highly aware of drug and alcohol use vivors, however we can endeavour to pro- drug and alcohol abuse, or suicide. Being a means only that the sexual assault should amongst members attending union events vide as safe an environment as possible, member of the IWW is important, but not never be considered an organizing issue and socials. Having a designated pair as well promote organizational practices nearly important as being healthy and safe. within the campaign. A worker might feel (preferably of different genders) of sober that allow for the long and difficult path Imagine if a woman reported a rape, deeply empowered by successful direct ac- individuals at each event allows the event to recovery. International (Working) Women’s Day Continued from 1 urged their husbands and brothers to join United States. It is crucial that we continue based violence and inequity, we are here Mass., commonly referred to as the “Bread them. They mobilized 90,000 workers forward, in similar spirit of our sisters who to seek out and/or offer resources for peer and Roses” strike. The strike was led by a to demand bread and an end to war and went on strike in 1857 and 1908, fighting mediation, conflict resolution, anti-sexism contingent of mostly women and immi- Tsarist repression. to abolish patriarchy and sexism alongside training, literature, consent training and grants in response to the bosses cutting Since the early 1900s, workers have, capitalism, as both systems of oppression direct actions. Our aim is to foster an their wages following the passage of a new first and foremost, used IWD as a day to and exploitation are deeply intertwined. atmosphere of inclusiveness in the labor state law reducing the maximum hours in resist and organize together, and second Therefore, the GEC supports the movement and the IWW in particular. a work week. While this strike did not oc- to celebrate the hard-fought struggles of struggle for gender equity in our union, The GEC is also responsible for admin- cur on March 8, it did occur in the spring working people all across the world. Many workplaces, and the world at large. The istering the IWW Sato Fund in memory of and its message has since sparked many countries—including Afghanistan, Cuba, five voting members of the GEC—elected at Charlene “Charlie” Sato. The Sato Fund other direct actions in which working-class Vietnam, and Russia—celebrate March 8 the IWW General Convention each year— was started to aid IWW members who are people have demanded the need for both as an official holiday. communicate with each other as well as women, genderqueer or trans* to attend the necessities in life as well as some of The GEC believes this kind of struggle other members through the GEC listserv, important meetings, trainings, classes “the good things of life.” “Bread and Roses” is important, and the true working-class offering their experiences, resources, and and workshops, therefore elevating the has continued to be a common theme for roots of IWD must not be forgotten. We solidarity. Any member is welcome to join. participation, ability, and presence of non- the working class on IWD. must not allow its history to be diluted by If you are interested please visit http:// cissexual (“cis”) male membership. If you On IWD in 1917, a group of striking a bourgeois agenda, much the way Labor lists.iww.org/listinfo/genderequity. qualify and this resource would be of help women textile workers in Petrograd, Rus- Day has replaced May Day as the widely Because we recognize that our own to you, please contact us at [email protected] sia sparked the Russian Revolution and celebrated working-class holiday in the union is sometimes the source of gender- to get started on the application process. March 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 9 Special Invisible Work: Women’s Challenges In The Service Economy By Lydia Alpural-Sullivan idea that those particular forms of female in Leviticus 27, verses 3-7, which In the changed economic landscape of capital should come at no additional cost, contains a tariff describing the the 21st century global economy, no well- is no huge stretch. In his 1983 book, “The values of female and male slaves. developed theory or system for quantify- Managed Heart,” Arlie Hothschild coined The average worth of a female slave ing the value of labor outside the realm of the useful phrase “emotional labor,” de- was approximately 63 percent of physical goods production exists. The task fined as that which “requires one to induce that of a male slave. Interestingly, of quantifying the value of labor as a good or suppress feeling in order to sustain the the average wage differential for a itself is complex and abstract. The result outward countenance that produces the female worker between 1950 and of this difficulty is that when determin- proper state of mind in others.” Female 1990 was 62.5 percent that of men. ing the value of a worker’s skillset for the workers are particularly susceptible to Until nearly the 21st century, it purpose of determining compensation, performing emotional labor, both because would appear, pay for women has an employer is wont to rely on subjective of the jobs made available to them, and lagged amazingly consistently. It is benchmarks defined by tradition, and in because they have been mercilessly social- possible the inherent patriarchy of the case of women particularly the sexual ized to bear the burden of being pleasant these belief systems was the vehicle division of labor. and amicable. Certain sects of Mormon- across the centuries for a consistent Graphic: Solidarity, July 29, 1916 The type of work that is available to ism have even adopted the mantra for disparateness in worth. class. What we as workers can do to help women (not to be confused with work their young women—“Keep Sweet,” as a To see how emotional labor is ignored address this is to first be aware of the women choose, as the capitalist class is reminder that passive agreeableness is a in the workplace, simply imagine which emotional labor we do, and understand the fond of framing it) certainly has something duty of their sex. task sounds more exhausting—a childcare unique challenges that female workers face to do with pay inequality. Data from the So, what is the precise connection be- worker looking after 20 children, or a tech- in service jobs. We must also make efforts U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in tween women occupying jobs that reflect nician repairing a car. Include in your con- to consider our fellow workers in this re- 2013 shows that the great majority of the the sexual division of labor and the pay sideration that the technician will receive gard. Perhaps most importantly, we must lowest paying jobs are in the service sec- gap? Cultural traditions arising from a nearly twice what the caregiver will—and be willing to unify and speak up when we tor, particularly food service and retail history written by the voice of patriarchy he is almost certainly male, and she, fe- see this condition being taken advantage occupations—industries which are largely seem to suggest that women’s work is sim- male. Alternately, some male-dominated of. The favorite tool of the capitalist class occupied by female workers. What’s more, ply more worthless. Certain tasks, having industries (like information technology) is to divide workers along lines—by pay, women aren’t only over-represented in been historically assigned to the realm of will hire “office moms”—women brought by race, by gender—to tempt us to think the lowest paying jobs; they are the lowest women, have become in a Veblenian sense on for their interpersonal skills to help of- some jobs, some skills, some workers are paid amongst that section of workers, too. “humiliating” (as opposed to “honorific”) fices run smoothly. These women are not doing more and are worth more than oth- Domestic labor that women have employments—or in other words, jobs paid for their interpersonal contributions ers. To tolerate a gender pay gap is to assist performed in the home and community which have never been and shall never be to the business, despite the fact that they the employing class to that end. The only has also traditionally been unpaid work. lionized, appreciated, or respected propor- carry significant emotional and psycho- answer is to be an advocate for any worker To imagine that those same skills have tional to their use and value to a society. logical weight in the workplace. who you feel is not being paid for every bit come to be simply expected from women To find millennia-old evidence of Obviously, closing the wage gap has of the labor they are doing, whether that by employers, essentially normalizing the a gender gap in worth, one might start profound implications for the working labor is visible or not. Organizing What Kind Of Workers Deserve A Union? By X365097 call a broad spectrum working-class soli- for far too long. In current IWW orga- The standard of living for U.S. work- darity, but a perverse kind of unionism fu- nizing campaigns, whether it is around ers has been stagnating or in decline for eled by reaction, racism, sexism, nativism the Sisters’ Camelot Canvass Union the last four decades despite enormous and other prejudices. Most of all, though, it in Minnesota, the Insomnia Workers leaps in productivity. Labor unions, or- is a unionism that does not get to the root Union in Massachusetts, or any number ganizing on the shop floor to shut down of the problem facing all workers, whether of other active shop-floor struggles, we, production to enforce workers’ demands, or not we inhabit traditionally privileged Wobblies, still hear criticism regularly are a well-proven and direct method of racial, gender and other statuses. The from people who consider themselves to closing the gap between what workers root of the problem is that capitalism—in be progressive or otherwise left-of-center want and what they get from their bosses. allowing a 1 to 10 percent of social mem- in comments such as, “I support unions, Yet labor unions today count less than 8 bers to control, own, and unduly influence but not for these people. They work part percent of private sector workers and less industry, thereby directly or indirectly rul- time and don’t have job skills!” Or they than 40 percent of public sector work- ing over the other 90 to 99 percent—cre- will tell us, “If you want better wages, ers in their membership. Furthermore, ates at a structural or institutional level a get out of the fast food industry and go public opinion often turns against those permanent underclass of people who have back to school!” We also hear these sorts workers who risk their jobs and reputa- fewer opportunities and greater hardships of remarks around other contemporary tions to try to start up unions in their no matter what they do. struggles going on in the broader Fight workplaces, calling them “undeserv- By contrast, the IWW and our simi- For 15 movement at McDonald’s and ing” and a host of other insults. Is there larly radical forebears have fought—even other large, highly profitable franchise anything in the history of unionism that when it was illegal, for instance, for black chains. explains why we see these self-defeating and white workers to belong to the same Comments like these betray almost and contradictory behaviors playing out unions—to have a totally unified class of superstitious beliefs not only in an up- at a time when workers need to come working people: skilled and unskilled, ward social and economic mobility that together more than ever to fight for com- male and female, with no one left out. We always had a low ceiling for the majority mon goals? did this not only because it is just in itself, and that no longer, in large measure, even Looking back a century or more to but also because it is the only strategic or exists, but also in a labor division and the rise of labor unions as a major force logical method of liberating workers from class system that is based on the notion in industrialized countries, we see that the capitalists’ domination of modern that some workers deserve to be treated some of the biggest unions (the Ameri- society. Either we all stand united and on and paid poorly by their employers—and can Federation of Labor in particular in equal footing in opposition to the control- indeed that there should be two separate Graphic: X378461 the United States) made no bones about lers of industry on the basis of class alone, employing and working classes to begin setting their priorities on organizing and or we will be divided and conquered from with (rather than, say, a cooperative sys- Read the Industrial Worker! protecting highly trained and socially within our ranks and defeated, as has hap- tem of industry in which this dichotomy privileged workers (native-born white pened over and over again. (The reaction is transcended). To the IWW, all workers males in particular) not only from capital- from certain subsets of the white working deserve a union, and we believe that un- ist factory owners, but also against sup- class against racial equality and integra- til all workers do organize into One Big posed threats “from below” in the form tion in the late 1960s and early 1970s, for Union, we can expect to see continued of immigrant workers, female workers, example, was arguably an important part inequalities between “undeserving” work- workers of ethnic, religious and racial mi- of how the capitalist class was able to re- ers who are stuck with jobs comprised of norities, and other relatively underprivi- gain a strengthened hand after decades of 90 percent disempowering tasks and low leged workers. The arguable goal of these working-class organization and upsurges compensation and “deserving” workers unions was to create a well-paid, elite to bring us the overtly anti-worker, neo- (or so it is rationalized) who get to do the class of “deserving workers” who were liberal regimes of former U.S. Presidents better jobs that carry more prestige and able, as a unified group, to put their needs Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, never involve undervalued but necessary ahead of other workers’ needs, sometimes and so on from the 1980s to today). “dirty work” like picking up trash, flipping aligning their interests with the employ- In 2014, more than 60 years after Mc- burgers, or changing diapers. But most of ing class in the process. When it suited Carthyism and the institutionalized purg- all, there will be a capitalist class above them, these unions would break each ing of radicals from within mainstream both types of workers, keeping most of other’s strikes and generally do whatever labor unions, more than 50 years after the the fruits of our labor as their own private it took to obtain, as they said, what they near-collapse of the IWW that followed, property and letting us fight amongst considered to be “a fair day’s wage for a and more than 40 years after average ourselves for the leftovers. The IWW fair day’s work,” even if it meant hurting U.S. wages reached their high point, labor exists to end these injustices and form a other, supposedly less deserving workers radicals still struggle to overcome pro- democratic society in which industry is along the way. capitalist union ideologies and reverse the operated according to need as determined That is not what we in the IWW would class defeats which have plagued workers by workers ourselves. Are you with us? Graphic: Industrial Worker, Feb. 26, 1921 Page 10 • Industrial Worker • March 2014 Reviews Short Takes Of Revolutionary Women By Steve Thornton son.com. Birth control check that W.E.B. Dubois was one of her The granddaughter of one of the Nothing can re- pioneer or racist eu- many supporters, and that Martin Luther IWW’s most gifted organizers is using art place the power of genicist? Margaret King, Jr. was given the “Margaret Sanger” to educate a new generation about Matilda music to raise the Sanger is celebrated award in 1966. Pick up “Woman Rebel” Rabinowitz. Robbin Légère Henderson fighting spirit of the as the former and and decide for yourself. It’s published by of Berkeley, Calif., is an artist who has oppressed. “Songs slammed as the Drawn and Quarterly. combined her personal recollections of of Freedom” is a latter. The graphic “No Gods, No Masters” has been her grandmother, Rabinowitz (who was new CD and book novel “Woman Reb- shouted out and painted on many a ban- later known as Matilda Robbins), with celebrating James el: The Margaret ner, even before it appeared at early Wob- the Wobbly’s archived documents in the Connolly, the Irish Sanger Story” by bly demonstrations. Now a new film, “No Walter P. Reuther Library at the Wayne revolutionary and Peter Bagge tries God, No Master” (2012) explores 1919, the State University in Detroit. Beginning IWW organizer who to set the record incendiary year in which the U.S. govern- in 1912, Rabinowitz led textile strikes in was also a prolific straight. This is an ment brought all its power to bear against Connecticut and Little Falls, N.Y. She then songwriter. Many enjoyable illustrat- the Wobblies and those who opposed helped organize the earliest auto work- of Connolly’s lyr- ed biography of the capital. Forget the bad Internet Movie ers strike at the Studebaker Company in ics were not set to activist who began Database synopsis; this 2012 film directed Detroit. In 1919 Rabinowitz had a child, music (or the tunes Graphic: Robbin Henderson her career as a rebel by Terry Green is a political thriller where Vita, whose daughter, Robbin, is now have been lost), so Robbin Henderson’s illustration of by working with the the main character’s “journey into the preparing a graphic novel memoir. Her performer Mat Cal- Matilda Rabinowitz on the soapbox. children of the Law- world of homegrown terrorism proves to striking illustrations, a total of 70 prints, lahan provides us with contemporary rence, Mass., textile workers during the be a test of both his courage and his faith are accompanied by a text that begins tunes that inspire and rock. His live per- 1912 “Bread and Roses” strike (the book in the government he had dedicated his life with Rabinowitz’s immigration from the formances with Yvonne Moore should not gives us two pages on Sanger’s involve- to preserving.” It stars David Straithairn Ukraine through her extraordinary orga- be missed. They are touring both coasts of ment). Bagge takes on the controversy (known for his role in “Matewan”) and nizing life. Robbin Henderson is currently the United States and Europe in 2014. The about Sanger’s speeches and policies that features characterizations of Emma Gold- looking for a publisher. If you would like book and the CD are both available from some, like former presidential candidate man, Carlo Tresca and Luigi Galleani. The information on how to contact her, visit PM Press, or you can visit http://www. Herman Cain, have used to smear her and film will start its limited theatrical release her website: http://www.robbinhender- matcallahan.com. Planned Parenthood. Doubters can fact- in March 2014. “Shoeleather History Of The Wobblies” Teaches New IWW Stories Thornton, Stephen. A Shoeleather History and Wobblies,” “Joe Hill: is not an academic work. old misconception that “the IWW in the of the Wobblies: Stories of the Industrial The IWW and the Making In this way it is more like U.S. collapsed because of government Workers of the World (IWW) in Connecti- of a Revolutionary Work- Franklin Rosemont’s book repression.” This has been disproven and cut. The Shoeleather History Project, ing Class Counterculture,” on Joe Hill. “Shoeleather” the sooner we move on to analyzing what 2013. Paperback, 150 pages, $11.99. “Harvest Wobblies,” and is a collection of essays actually did happen, the healthier we will “Wobblies on the Water- and vignettes about the be as a union. Second, there were major By FNB front: Interracial Union- IWW and its work in Con- efforts to organize Metal and Machine Over the last 20 years there has been ism in Progressive-Era necticut. It is divided into Workers Industrial Union (IU) 440 in a small explosion of new books regarding Philadelphia” are all sections on free speech the 1930s in Bridgeport. These efforts the IWW. This should be welcomed as books that can be used to fights, organizing/actions, were built on successes in Cleveland. I’m they are better books for active Wobblies inspire new forms of Wob- repression, and individu- not faulting Fellow Worker Thornton for than those works that preceded them. bly activity. als. The entries are usually the oversight; it’s pretty obscure and not Older histories, riddled with fallacies pro- “Shoeleather History very short, but interesting mentioned in major histories. It would moted by Communist-oriented academia of the Wobblies” is an and well-written. be interesting if any information could and labor bureaucracies, have (fortu- interesting addition to the I have only two small be found on those efforts. nately) fallen into the trash heap we call collection of new IWW his- criticisms of the book. The author, Steve Thornton, is a “out-of-print.” tories. Unlike most of the The section on repression member of the IWW. I thank him for his The newer books, such as: “Oil, Wheat aforementioned books, it Graphic: shoeleatherhistoryproject.com somewhat falls into the efforts in this book. Readers’ Soapbox Learning Valuable Lessons About Business Unions Dear IW, cause clashes with the bureaucracy and they were discussed in 1934—but even logically but for their everyday existence. My Fellow Worker (FW) Brandon Oli- bosses. I believe we need to be prepared for by 1944 unions in the United States had This began in Russia in the 1920s, it was ver’s excellent review of the play “Waiting these insurgencies and meet them (and/or been fundamentally changed into semi- fairly well-perfected in the United States For Lefty” (“Valuable Lessons Learned participate in them) as Wobblies. governmental organizations. So much between 1935 and 1947, and employed in From 1935 Play ‘Waiting For Lefty,’” De- Sophisticated bureaucracies will not of the discourse is still stuck in 1934 and other countries in different ways (the one cember 2013 IW, page 3) ended in a criti- seek just to repress this militancy, but essentially boils down to two ideas: the I’m most familiar with would be Spain in cal examination of the state of the official channel it into controlled protest aimed first is that the unions are basically good the 1977 “Pactos de Moncloa” that paved labor movement—what Wobblies often at adding more chips to the labor bosses organizations of the working class but the way for the return of capitalist democ- call the “business unions.” I liked that the hand at the capitalists’ table. with a bad, bureaucratic leadership which racy). The general common feature is to FW hit the business unions hard (we need For these reasons, downplaying or dis- we have to struggle against and try to re- remove the union from depending on the more of that in the IW in my opinion). I missing the possibility of militancy emerg- place; the second is that the bureaucratic workers for its everyday existence, making also generally agree that: ing from workers in the business unions or unions are bad unions, because they are it dependent instead on the employers and “The business unions aren’t just good from the business unions themselves will not revolutionary, and that the working the state for planning its budget and cut- unions gone bad; they are literally zom- disorient people (including our member- class would be better off going with revo- ting paychecks to its staff. A contemporary bies—shells that appear to still be alive ship and base) if and when that happens. lutionary unions that know how to fight. example would be the money flowing from but with all of their internal dynamic and This could in turn build up illusions in the However unions are just like anything else Democratic Party outfits through Madison thought process gone, destroyed by re- bureaucrats (“This union is different, it IS that humans make: they change. Sports, Avenue firms into SEIU’s Fight for 15 cam- peated doses of the poison known as the fighting”). I think this is some of the rea- political parties, “art”—all of it has gone paign, and the total lack of dependence on National Labor Relations Act. Finally, they son the Service Employees International through major structural changes in the fast-food workers. have become incapable of acting out of the Union (SEIU) has a different image with past 80 years, and so have the organiza- So what does this mean for our prac- bounds that their poisoners have set. We many radical young folks. tions that we call unions. tice? The key thing to realize is that the two can’t ‘recapture’ or replace them (that is, I think the question that we have to classic approaches—replace the reformist not at administering the contract). Our Solidarity, ask, in order to understand unions to- leadership with a revolutionary leadership, task has to be to show a different path, as Kdog day, is “Who do they depend on for their or replace the reformist union with a revo- a permanent fighting workers’ organiza- Twin Cities Wob existence?” Originally unions, even the lutionary union—are both inadequate now. tion.” worst ones, depended for their continued What we need is an organization which can It would be a mistake however to Response to Kdog existence on workers who would be willing build independently, and outside of the conclude that there won’t be turmoil and Dear IW, to pay dues, attend meetings and walk off union structure, for a working-class fight- struggle from the ranks of the business I’m glad to see the response to the the job in defense of their positions and back. This organization should organize unions. Even in their decrepit state there review of “Waiting for Lefty.” I think there their union power. Maybe they had un- workers where there is no union, and it has been a consistent pattern of rebellion were some weaknesses in how I expressed democratic leaders, maybe they supported should also be a visible tendency within emerging from under and against the some thoughts, and K did a good job re- colonialism, maybe they excluded women, already unionized shops that stands for a bureaucracy. This can be seen in the rag- sponding to those. immigrants, or Blacks. These problems real fightback, not just changes of leader- ing class war of the Detroit newspapers First of all, maybe my “zombie union- were certainly also present in the working ship, and which organizes and pushes strike, the [United Food and Commercial ism” analogy was kind of stretched. I’m class, they weren’t invented by the bosses. for militant action on the widest class Workers] P-9 strike in Austin, the Aircraft trying to address what I see as a huge This led to the classic position that trade basis possible, not just symbolic pseudo- Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) blind spot in radical thought since the unions represented the average of the militancy. strike at Northwest Airlines, the west coast 1930s, which is that we ought to look at working class, and couldn’t be expected to The IWW is our best bet for this kind longshore workers and the Chicago Teach- unions the same way we ought to look at be too radical. From a Wobbly perspective of organization, but we’ve still got a long ers Union. anything else in society. That is, we have this was problematic even in the 1930s, way to go. I see this pattern continuing, not end- to look at them as historical objects that but made sense. ed. Militant workers will continue to TRY change both due to internal and external But there is a global tendency that we Looking forward to continuing the and use the business unions’ structures for pressures. So much of the way that unions can see in hindsight of tying unions to the debate, class self-defense, and this will inevitably are discussed on the left is the same as state and employing class, not just ideo- Brandon Oliver March 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Readers’ Soapbox Contracts Are Not A Tool, They’re A Trap By Scott Nappalos developing organizers and direct actions. that builds people’s will to fight. rial gains (and hope people get on our side In the December 2013 Industrial With complete turnover of the shops we This discussion also raises the ques- along the way) or are we trying to organize Worker an article defending contracts for were lucky enough to encounter one or two tion of what we think made the business people and radicalize workers in struggle? the IWW appeared (“The Contract As A individuals who wanted to organize and unions turn out the way they did? Is it just Obviously we need both. But the pursuit of Tactic,” page 4). The author pointed out make changes at work. We started over that they have personal flaws or aren’t material gains is distorting on two levels. the union’s historic hostility to contracts from scratch and organized those shops in radicals? Many of them start out just as First, people are not necessarily convinced (the General Executive Board [GEB] even exactly the same way you organize with- sincere as us, and tons of union officials, just by winning things. Often the opposite expelled a group of workers who signed out a contract. Through a series of direct organizers and militants begin as leftists. happens. In the IWW we’ve seen easy wins a contract in the union’s early history), actions around daily grievances, we were The problem with the methods of busi- evaporate when people get what they want. but he missed the reasons for the opposi- able to rebuild and bring new organizers ness unions is not who is doing them, or Likewise, it is often great defeats that spur tion. The article is useful though into the fold. For some time the even their militancy and democracy, since people on to a lifetime of commitment. The because it highlights one of the organizers in those shops were militant and democratic versions of busi- history of labor is filled with this, and many main issues for the IWW today: making arguments against their ness unionism have done only marginally of our best organizers today in the IWW what our role is as revolutionar- own contracts and looking for better. The real issue is that they struggle come from failed campaigns. Winning or ies trying to work around the ways around them or even to get within a framework that improves the sys- losing doesn’t happen in a vacuum; people Photo: metrotrader.net breadth of working-class life. rid of them. In the years since tem and that they are ideological organiza- interpret those outcomes based on how I came of age politically in the Portland I’ve left that may have changed. The big- tions of reform. If we pursue simply a more they view the world, and what they want IWW, the branch that held and still holds ger picture is that organizing is similar in militant version of this, we risk becoming to do with it. That can change in struggle, the majority of contract campaigns in the many different contexts, and the real issue a business union with red flags only. but it’s never as simple as winning or tip- whole union. Since then, I have partici- is how we advance the IWW’s revolution- All this goes exactly against our ba- ping the balance. pated in contract shops, a strike, and a few ary ideas and organizing on the ground. sic tasks as IWW members, which is to Secondly, we should not expect that a negotiations as a business union member Part of the problem is that people increase the activity and commitment of union which threatens all those who are in a handful of unions and with the IWW. feel that our commitments will make the workers to a fundamentally new order. powerful will be better at securing gains. For a time I was one of the organizers in outcome of contracts different. Democracy Our goal is to expand the amount of No revolutionary workers’ movement ever the Social Service Industrial Union Branch and direct action are seen as silver bullets. people getting involved in fights around was. Reformism has the upper hand here (IUB), the largest in Portland with 150 In our limited experiences with contracts their daily lives because those fights can usually. It’s much easier for the power- people, of which the three contract shops and their shops, we saw the opposite. The change them. People can find convictions ful to give concessions to a collaborative were a tiny section. While historically reality is that unions do not have trouble and hope in collective struggle. Contracts body than an oppositional revolutionary the IWW had opposed contracts, it was getting militant contracts because they restrain that and trade financial gains for one. To fetishize the winning aspect is to our recent history with them that helped aren’t militant (which some unions have restrained activity. fundamentally mistake it for the reason develop our own critique. tried obviously), but because contracts The author endorses the grievance why people fight. When I became a member of the push us away from taking direct action. procedure and points to materially im- People fight because they believe in Social Service IUB 650, there were only The real issue with contracts is that it is proving the lives of people through con- it. I hear again and again from workers two members in good standing from the a framework to settle workplace disputes tracts. The grievance procedure itself is organizing that they want justice and to three shops a short time after winning the that changes our role as organizers and the the embodiment of this pacifying effect make things right even if it’s worse for initial fights. We had contracts, but the relationship of the workers to the union. of contracts. Grievance procedures take them. This is key. People need to believe workers in two of the shops were actively Contracts emphasize the professional the discontent around issues and put it in something to give them the strength hostile to the union. They openly told us roles of lawyers, negotiators, and often into a labor court to be settled by officials to endure the inevitable suffering that they wanted nothing to do with us, and politicians, while mediating direct action barring direct action. Employers agree to comes with throwing yourself against the that they thought the union was wrong in getting demands. This is not random; it because it takes workplace problems capitalist class. Today it is a pretty uneven for their work. Our main contact who it’s why the capitalists invented the off the clock and out of the way of their battle. If we hedge our bets on winning the worked at one of two contact shops under contractual system. Contracts have long interests. That line of reasoning is exactly day-to-day battles, I don’t think we will the same company, a capable organizer labor peace periods, because the capital- how unions become a tool of the oppres- get very far. named Sarah Bishop, ended up tragically ists identified in the 1930s the disruptive sion of workers with the rise of contractual On the other hand, we have been able dying in an accident while hiking. This left role of direct action. Unions experience unionism. During the 1930s workers en- to inspire committed lifelong militants us without any members in those shops for lulls between contracts, because they are gaged in slowdowns and fought to control through workplace fights. People can be a long time. The third shop went the same intended to. What employer would sign production (for the safety of their bodies, transformed in collective struggle. The direction shortly thereafter. Conditions a contract while knowing that workers amongst other things) directly on the IWW has a lot to offer here as we offer not were bad in the shops, having the IWW would continue to disrupt the business shop floor. The United Auto Workers’ first only our tactics, but also our revolutionary only on paper. every month thereafter? Likewise, work- contracts began to integrate production ideas that help people work through the Other cities do not do much better. ers, in spite of the best efforts of many quotas, creating a virtual speed up where broader problems of their lives and gives a The Bay Area General Membership Branch unions, continue to see the union largely as the union enforced the boss’s workflow unique vision of a better world worth fight- (GMB) has had contract shops for decades, a service through the contract. Contracts against the workforce. Contracts took ing for. This is our basic task today: to radi- and while they maintain members in good are not a neutral tool for getting the goods; shop fights and institutionalized them, calize people and spread a revolutionary standing and have done excellent direct they channel worker discontent into the effectively illegalized prior struggles that movement that could pose at times a real action and organizing, the workers have dominant means of settling disputes, a kept workers safe, and turned the union challenge to capital. That task goes beyond never had any real interaction with the system that promotes worker passivity and into the cop for the boss. any immediate short-term gains and helps union. The workers historically have not something that in nearly every case has It’s not hard to see the ideology behind us understand why it is so hard to win at attended the GMB meetings, contributed contributed to this vast alienation from contracts—they serve to channel workers the shop level today. Ultimately we are to the social and political life of the union, workplace activity seen in unions across into a legislative sphere that mirrors the in the business of organizing individuals: run for positions within, etc. This is the this country. dominant society. Contracts, union elec- workers through their lives and actions. To real history of contracts within the IWW. What is the difference between our tions, and labor courts are to the world have a sustained revolutionary movement How many people are familiar with vision of unionism and the dominant one? of workers what the state is to society as takes a particular situation that allows it the IWW Dare Family Services shop work- A point looming large is that we’re a revo- a whole. Just like we can’t play by their to flourish. Often reformism just will func- ers in Boston or the tiny clerical workers lutionary union. We want to do something rules in the government, we need to assert tion better. As we’ve learned through our unit within an already unionized co-op in that is fundamentally illegitimate from our own power on the shop floor directly. own experiments with adopting reformist Seattle? While we’ve serviced contracts in the perspective of dominant institutions, This highlights a basic dilemma that tactics, they don’t give us extra tools for those shops, politically they represent sat- including the law. So we should be wary faces revolutionary unionists today: What building that movement; they only remove ellites of the IWW without any real interac- of fitting too neatly into the law. There is is our role? Are we trying to secure mate- the best parts of our work. tion or development with the union. Our not an even playing field between us and relationship has been largely to service the unions that want to improve capitalism them, acting as virtual staff and more often today. Nor should we expect that employ- Sponsor an Industrial Worker than not slipping away from direct action. ers, the state, and other unions will play ubscription for a risoner Today Portland’s shops do have active fair if we pose a real challenge. Contracts S P members and some admirable actions and the legalistic framework for organizing Sponsor an Industrial Worker under their belt. Part of this shift came are one tool they use to discipline workers, subscription for a prisoner! when we pursued a different strategy; and it’s our job to find ways to circumvent The IWW often has fellow ignored the contracts and focused on all the detours from the kinds of organizing workers & allies in prison who write to us requesting a subscription to the Industrial Worker, the official newspaper of the IWW. This is your chance to show solidarity! For only $18 you can buy one full year’s worth of working- class news from around the world for a fellow worker in prison. Just visit: http://store.iww.org/industrial- worker-sub-prisoner.html

Graphic: Solidarity, May 19, 1917 to order the subscription Page 12 • Industrial Worker • March 2014 Samsung Workers Riot In Vietnam By John Kalwaic Construction workers building a Samsung factory clashed with secu- rity guards in Vietnam’s northern Thai Nguyen province. When a construction worker did not show an entrance card, the security guards beat him with an electric baton and left him unconscious. The IWW formed the International Solidarity Commission to help the union build Then his fellow workers began to riot. the worker-to-worker solidarity that can lead to effective action against the bosses Around 3,000 to 4,000 of the of the world. To contact the ISC, email [email protected]. 10,000 construction workers went on a rampage, burning security contain- ISC Computes Branch Recommendations ers and smashing cars and motorcycles By the IWW International used by security. Solidarity Commission With files from http://www.libcom. (ISC) org. Samsung factory riot. Photo: libcom.org In 2013, the ISC—com- posed of Fellow Workers Goodyear Workers Kidnap Bosses In France (FWs) Dalilah, Erik and Bran- after police intervened. Af- don—sent a survey to Gen- ter the “bossnapping,” the eral Membership Branches CGT said it plans to occupy (GMBs, or branches) to im- the plant. “The show is prove the work of our union’s only just beginning,” CGT international commission. leader Mickael Wamen In planning our work for the said at a press conference, coming year, we the 2014 according to Bloomberg ISC—Florian, JP, and Bill— FWs Batman and Robin at Photo: techland.time.com Business Week. the Bat Solidarity Calculating took a look at what 11 IWW Machine. Goodyear announced branches told us to do. can all plan and participate together. in 2013 that it would close FWs in New York City suggested Madison Wobblies seconded the call the Amiens factory after that the ISC be a conduit for successful for better ISC visibility along with more Goodyear workers’ barricade. Photo: popularresistance.org five years of talks with the examples of direct actions abroad. The assistance for our FWs when they travel CGT had failed to produce ISC would gather knowledge of such overseas. By John Kalwaic an agreement. The Goodyear factory’s campaigns and spread it around; perhaps Wobblies in Baltimore went a step Workers at a Goodyear tire plant in the planned closure sparked protests last we could invite our sister unions abroad further and asked: Why can’t the ISC northern French town of Amiens took two March, and workers also have demon- to lead Organizer Trainings (OTs) for us make regular monthly calls to their as- executives hostage on Jan. 7 to protest the strated at Goodyear’s French headquarters here in North America. The New York signed liaisons like the GEB does? Bal- closure of their plant. The workers, mem- in the Paris suburbs. City Wobblies demanded more Spanish: timore FWs participated in the “iSlaves” bers of the Confédération Générale du With files from Bloomberg Business translations, news, material and litera- event—a speaking tour about Chinese Travail (CGT) union, released the bosses Week. ture! We’ve got to build bridges among Foxconn workers—and suggested more immigrant workers and their home international days of action. They ex- countries while taking into account the horted the ISC to set some goals and to South Korean Railway Workers Strike By Railroad Workers pernicious role of U.S. imperialism. work smarter, not harder! United Wobblies in the Twin Cities had a lot Pittsburgh FWs pushed for making In December 2013, Korean to say, as always, and suggested that the China and Bangladesh a priority. Pitts- railroad workers went out on ISC get serious with policies and proce- burgh recommended connecting globally strike against what they feel dures: How is the ISC mandated to com- along industrial lines, focusing on food are plans by the government municate? Why is our liaison system not and retail, especially at Starbucks! to privatize the national rail- as hip as the OT network? Can the mem- Our FWs in the German Language way and destroy the union. bership get it together and write an actual Area Regional Organizing Committee The Korean Railway Workers IWW policy on international expansion? (GLAMROC) had a lot of input for the ISC Union (KRWU) has called One aspect of the ISC’s work that the as well. In Berlin, they urged us to con- on its international allies for Twin Cities folks like are “greetings” from tinue building the global IWW—assisting support. Railroad Workers our sister unions at IWW gatherings, and international growth while cooperat- United (RWU) has endorsed said we need more of them! ing with our sister unions. In Cologne, their efforts and has been Korean Railway Workers Union. Photo: indybay.org The Portland branch reminded us to they recommended one liaison for all of publicizing the actions of these brave assistance. The union called off the strike keep in diligent contact with the IWW’s GLAMROC and for all statements to be and determined workers. On Dec. 17, the in early January claiming at least a partial General Executive Board (GEB) about sent over the general email list—excessive Teamsters officially endorsed the action victory. The action by Korean rail workers developing relationships and to clarify email traffic be damned! In Kassel, they and have called on the Korean government is an important fight that is the concern of the migrating mandate of the ISC. They doubled the call for industrial coordina- to bargain in good faith with the union and railroad workers everywhere, especially expressed an interest in developing our tion. Forget rubbing elbows with secre- for government repression of the union to those facing privatization in their own relationship with Latin American unions taries at conferences! Support workers cease. Thousands of workers were out on countries. as well, and suggested we link our union who are fighting and devise ways to help strike just before Christmas, holding mas- This piece originally appeared in the contacts with each other: linking Ban- them win! sive spirited rallies of tens of thousands Winter 2014 issue of The Highball, Official gladesh with Cambodia and Honduras, FW Florian, our engineer, put all throughout the country. Railway workers Publication of Railroad Workers United. It for example. these comments into the “Bat Solidarity around the world came to their aid and was reprinted with permission. The FWs in D.C. enjoyed their soli- Calculating Machine” and it printed this darity action in support of Greek workers message for us to adhere to: “Regular and the speaking tour that they hosted columns in the IW - fwd abroad; Call Solidarity With Cambodian Garment Workers last year. A recommendation they had your liaisons; Build ‘Direct Links’ pro- workers to do everything in was to establish video conferences with gram along industry and company lines; their power to prevent factories our allies. FWs in Seattle, and most other Bring badass rebels to talk to us; Send from moving equipment and branches, stressed improving ISC com- our badasses there; Prepare Global Days materials out of the country. munications and giving branches more of Action; Teach more, translate more, Finally, we are saddened lead time in planning ISC events so we write more – join the fight.” and repulsed by reports of anti-Vietnamese violence on the same night. We do not know Support international solidarity! that these acts were committed by garment workers, but ask that all of our fellow workers, Cambodian garment workers Photo: libcom.org throughout the world, reject the march on prime minister’s house. easy explanations of national- By the ISC ism. Vietnamese workers are our class The International Solidarity Com- allies, as are workers from every nation or mission of the Industrial Workers of the ethnic group are. As Cambodian workers World sends its revolutionary greetings rebel in Cambodia, Vietnamese work- and solidarity to all the workers of Cam- ers are rebelling against their bosses by bodia as they struggle against oppression, burning down a Samsung plant in Hanoi. Assessments for $3 murder, and the everyday violence of low The IWW encourages solidarity between and $6 are available wages and overwork. Cambodian and Vietnamese workers. from your delegate or We are outraged by the murder of Let us direct our anger and our deserved IWW headquarters: protesters in the streets on Friday, Jan. hostility toward the bosses of our factories PO Box 180195, 3, and hope for a day when the murderers who control our pay and call the military Chicago, IL 60618, will be held accountable by the workers to kill us. USA. themselves. In solidarity for the liberation of all We stand in solidarity with the work- people, everywhere. ers demanding higher wages, and urge Sammaki! (Solidarity)