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Preamble to the Constitution of the Industrial Workers of the World he working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the Tworking people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. ONE BIG Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth. We find that the centering of the management of industries into fewer and UNION fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with the ever growing power of the employing class. The trade unions foster a state of aff airs which allows one The Principles and Goals of the set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the same industry, Industrial Workers of the World thereby helping defeat one another in wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into the belief that the working class have interests in common with their employers. These conditions can be changed and the interest of the working class upheld only by an organization formed in such a way that all its members in any one industry, or in all industries if necessary, cease work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an injury to one an injury to all. Instead of the conservative motto, “A fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage system.” If you agree with the ideas expressed in this booklet, that problems faced by the working class can be resolved only through the organization and direct action of workers in solidarity, then take the next logical step and join the IWW. If there is no IWW office in your area, nor an IWW delegate on your job, contact us at: Industrial Workers of the World PO BOX 180195, CHICAGO, IL 60618 email: [email protected] | www.iww.org ing workers in rehabilitation centers, medical 650 General, Legal, Public Interest, research services, health-maintenance orga- and Financial Office Workers: nizations, medical billing services, and All workers who provide legal services including other industries auxiliary to health services. those in law offices and attorneys who are actual wage- workers, title settlement offices, title- 613 Incarcerated Workers: search services, notary offices, and those who All incarcerated workers in the prison industry. provide services to the legal industry including law publishers, private investigators, legal research- 620 Education and Research Workers: ers, and brief-writing and transcription services. All workers in educational institutions includ- All workers who provide financial and insurance ing educators, students (except those mainly services including those in banks, stock and com- employed outside the education industry), and modities exchanges, real estate, accounting, and those in industries auxiliary to education includ- insurance companies. All workers for enterprises ing testing services, educational consulting primarily engaged in providing humane services services, dedicated school bus services, etc. All to the public, other than health services, includ- workers in research institutions including foun- ing those in religious, charitable, public advocacy, dations and museums, enterprises primarily employment agencies, community, and service engaged in providing technical and scientific ser- organizations not otherwise organized. vices, and in research laboratories not attached to educational institutions. 651 Government Workers: All civil service workers at the federal, state, pro- 630 Performing Arts, Recreation, vincial, county, and municipal levels not other- and Tourism Workers: wise organized including office staff , librarians, All workers involved in the creation and dissem- utility and construction inspectors, firefighters, ination of the performing arts including writers, recreation workers, and public works. dancers, and performing artists in theaters, concert halls, opera houses, movie theaters, and 660 Retail Workers: similar establishments. All workers involved in All workers in retail establishments unless other- the recreation and tourist industries including wise organized. amusement parks, carnivals, race tracks, casinos, cruise ships, guiding services and tourist infor- 670 Utility and Sanitation Workers: mation centers. All workers involved in provid- All non-government workers engaged in the ing auxiliary services to the industry including supply, maintenance, and transmission of gas, food and beverage, catering, talent booking, set electric, water, and sewer services. All workers and costume production, equipment and location employed in the collection and processing of dis- rentals, etc. posable and recyclable materials. 631 Freelance and Temporary Workers: 680 Household and All workers who are engaged in multiple indus- Personal Service Workers: tries on a temporary or short-term contrac- All workers performing services in and around the tual basis who obtain their own clients or are home including homemakers, cooks, maids, and engaged through employment and temporary house cleaning services. All workers performing staffing agencies including writers, editors, lan- personal services for individuals and families, guage teachers, translators, photographers, vid- including barber shops, beauty salons, massage eographers, sound technicians, visual artists, services, dry cleaning and laundry establish- graphic artists, designers, programmers, call ments, tailor shops, funeral parlors and crema- center workers, warehouse workers, construction toria, veterinary offices and other animal care workers, etc. centers. 640 Restaurant, Hotel, 690 Sex Industry Workers: and Catering Workers: All workers who use sexuality as the primary All workers in facilities for food and beverage ser- tool of their industry including telephone and vices, public accommodation, and catering ser- webcam sex workers, actors, erotic massage ser- vices not dedicated to serving a particular indus- vices, erotic and escort services, and dancers and try. models in night clubs, exotic dance clubs and peep shows. 450 Printing and Publishing Workers: All non-governmental workers in processing, All workers who produce and distribute newspa- transfer, and delivery of letters and messages by pers, books, catalogs, and other printed matter motor vehicle and bicycle. including reporters, journalists, staff writers, pho- tographers, graphic artists, researchers, and pro- grammers within the publishing industry. 550 Air Transport Workers: All workers in freight and passenger transporta- 460 Food Product Workers: tion by air. All repair, maintenance, and supply All workers, except agricultural and fishery workers specific to the aviation industry. All workers, who produce, process and distribute workers in airports including food, beverage, and foodstuff s, beverages, and tobacco products. newsstand workers. 470 Electronics and Instrument Workers: 560 General Distribution Workers: All workers who manufacture and assemble All workers in general wholesale and warehouse electronic devices, musical instruments, jewelry facilities not attached to a particular industry. All and timepieces, and components of technical, workers engaged in support activities for trans- medical, and scientific instruments. portation and storage of goods including packing and crating services, inspection and survey ser- 480 Glass, Pottery, and Mineral Workers: vices, freight-forwarding services, etc. All workers who produce glass, pottery, chinaware, tile, bricks, wallboard, lime, gypsum, cement, 570 Communications and abrasives, and other non-metallic mineral prod- Internet Technology Workers: ucts other than fuels. All workers who provide and maintain telephone, internet, telegraph, satellite communication and 490 Pulp and Paper Mill Workers: computer operations, including programming All workers in pulp and paper mills. and networking. All workers engaged in the instal- lation, maintenance, and repair of communica- Department of Transportation tions cable, signal towers, transmitters, etc. and Communication 500 580 Information Service Workers: 510 Marine Workers: All workers who collect, store, and retrieve infor- All workers in cargo and passenger transpor- mation by conducting market research, opinion tation by water. All repair, maintenance, and polling, fundraising, and archival and statistical supply workers specific to the marine industry. research services. All workers in telephone call All workers in ports, including food, beverage, and centers, telephone answering services, captioning newsstand workers. services, mailbox and mail forwarding services. All workers not otherwise organized who work in 520 Railroad Workers: communications and public relations. All workers in long distance railway freight and passenger transportation. All repair,mainte- 590 Video, Audio, and ONE BIG nance, and supply workers specific to the railroad Film Production Workers: industry. All workers in railroad terminals, includ- All workers who produce recorded music, video ing food, beverage, and newsstand workers games, motion pictures, and radio and televi- sion programs or distribute them for sale, rental, 530 Ground Transportation or broadcast. All workers involved in providing and Transit Workers: auxiliary services to the industry including food All workers in freight and passenger
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