Official newspaper oF The Industrial Workers of the World

INDUSTRIALSeptember 2014 #1767 Vol. 111 No. 6 $2/ £2/ €2 WORKER

Fighting Patriarchy In Lessons From A Review: Case Studies John Reed’s First The One Big Union Certified Nursing Of Worker Labor Love: The IWW 3 Assistant 6 Self-Organization 8 11 Baltimore Jimmy John’s Workers Announce IWW Membership By the IWW Jimmy John’s We need a union to secure fair pay, guar- Workers Union anteed hours, and paid sick days, because On Saturday, Aug. 9, workers at the those things are basic human rights. We Jimmy John’s franchise sandwich shop will not be taken advantage of, and we’ll in Baltimore announced their member- keep fighting for [it] as long as it takes.” ship in the IWW Jimmy John’s Workers “The owners think of us as machines. Union (JJWU) and asked management to And that’s exactly how they treat us—as recognize their union and negotiate. This machines that turn bread and lettuce into decision, prompted by the actions of Mike money for them,” said Pratt Street driver Gillett and Danny Dolch, owners of the and IWW member Brendan Camiel. “So it Jimmy John’s franchise, targeted workers shouldn’t surprise us that they don’t think for their desire to have a fairer workplace. we need wages we can live on, or even basic Workers and supporters leafleted the respect. Why should they care about the Pratt Street location and presented their money and time we spend maintaining demands, declaring their membership in our bikes and our bodies for them, or the the JJWU. emotional and physical toll our working The demands of the JJWU include conditions take on us? We, the Jimmy union recognition as well as achieving John’s Workers Union, will force them and maintaining wage parity with their to care.” landlord hotel, the Hilton. Wage parity The Baltimore fast-food workers’ move would bring drivers’ wages to $10.75 per to unionize is emblematic of mounting hour, in-shop wages to $11.34 per hour, insurgency among fast-food and other IWW Jimmy John’s workers go public in Baltimore on Aug. 9. Photo: Baltimore IWW and wages of workers in charge to $12.34 low-wage workers in the United States. and larger share of total employment. workers have gone public as the IWW per hour. In the city of Baltimore, where longtime Employment in the food service industry Jimmy John’s Workers Union—the first “We’re not people to this company,” large employers have closed up shop or is expected to grow. being in Minneapolis in 2010. said Jimmy John’s worker and IWW have moved shop for cheaper labor, the The campaign in Baltimore is the For more information, visit http:// member Isaac Dalto. “We’re labor costs. food service industry is becoming a larger second franchise in the company where www.jimmyjohnsworkers.org. Portland Canvass Workers Walk Off The Job, Demand Unpaid Wages By Shane Burley Together they formed the United Cam- When a progressive campaign cannot paign Workers (UCW) with IWW support take care of its workforce according to the and began a campaign to come back to principles it claims, they are in a great deal work with a written agreement from man- of trouble. agement offering them the $15-per-hour On June 5, a crew of nine campaign pay rate and correct overtime they had canvass workers walked off their jobs at been promised. After initially marching the Oregon Campaign for the Restoration on the boss with their demands and being and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH) and into ignored, they started what has become a the office of the Portland IWW, looking nationwide effort of supporters and union to form a union. The workers had been partners phoning the UCW headquarters refused the paychecks they were owed for to show their support for the union. their time, which only built on the several On Friday, June 13, the workers staged bounced paychecks in the past. After their a second march on the boss, this time with checks did not arrive, and management dozens of supporters from the Portland refused to discuss what had just happened, IWW, Portland Solidarity Network, Jobs the canvassers walked out collectively as With Justice, Rose City Resistance, and a unit. This action had been a long time other organizations and union members, coming for a group of workers who had and took to the streets to approach the seen a “culture of secrecy and information CRRH office. repression that make incidents like this an Upon entering the office, a spokesper- ongoing problem,” said a statement they son from the UCW tried to present their Striking CRRH workers take to the streets in Portland, June 13. Photo: Dennis Gravey released. Continued on 7 Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage Work People’s College Europe: A Huge Success PO Box 180195 PAID By Michael White Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL From July 24 to and additional 27, fellow workers ISSN 0019-8870 mailing offices in the German Lan- ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED guage Area Member- ship Regional Orga- nizing Committee (GLAMROC) of the IWW hosted Work People’s College Eu- rope (WPC- Europe) in Berlin. The first WPC hosted in Eu- rope lived up to all the hype and radi- calism with which a mass IWW gathering The gates of WPC-Europe. Photo: Michael White comes. Fellow workers hailed from all Comrades from other organizations, over—Germany, Hong Kong, Romania, including the Freie Arbeiterinnen- und Iceland, France, Greece, Canada, the Arbeiter-Union (FAU), also came to United Kingdom., and the United States. Continued on 7 Page 2 • Industrial Worker • September 2014 Worker Cooperatives Do Undermine Capitalism I was dismayed to read Fellow Worker work allows us. Not all cooperatives are LeftSubscribe wing, right wing—it to all thetastes like (FW) Ogier’s article, which appeared on collectives, and there is room in many of chicken to me, but it seems a shrinking page 4 of the June 2014 Industrial Work- them for Wobbly organizing. However, factionIndustrial on the left will foreverWorker wave Karl er, titled “Worker Cooperatives: Crashing such an institution absolutely does tend to Marx’s “Capital” like Cotton Mather waved in the Same Car.” While FW Ogier raises embody our short-term goals as Wobblies. his Bible.Educate Yet we are yourself never treated and to any - a valid point that worker cooperatives, if Additionally, the IWW’s stated long- thingyour new or particularlyfellow workers exciting by those Letters Welcome! operating in competition with one another, term goal is to organize all workers into who think our anti-capitalist actions will improve withvastly from the the official writings of yet one Send your letters to: [email protected] with do not represent a complete end to capital- industry-wide unions for the purpose of more dead white European. “Letter” in the subject. ism, it disappoints me to read such con- seizing the means of production from the newspaper of the IWW. tinual underestimation (and to a certain capitalist class and ending the wage system Some of Marx’s musings are worth re- Mailing Address: extent, misunderstanding) by Wobblies of outright. It seems that a coordinated net- membering.Just My mail personal in this favorite form, is when Industrial Worker, P.O. Box 180195, radical tendencies in the worker coopera- work of collectively/horizontally-managed he said, “Ior am visit not a usMarxist,” online because at: Marx Chicago, IL 60618, United States. tive movement. worker cooperatives across a wide variety knewhttp://store.iww.org/industrial-worker.html his followers would get it wrong; indeed, no revolution which claimed to In November We Remember The IWW’s stated short-term goal is of industries is a step precisely in that to subscribe today! to improve day-to-day conditions on the direction, so why would we ever turn our follow his ideas ever attempted to abolish Send in your announcements for the the wage system. Mikhail Bakunin butted annual “In November We Remember” job for workers under capitalism. These backs on this idea? Of course, there need 10 issues for: would include higher pay, better hours, to be confrontations with and subversion heads with Marx by warning against the issue of the Industrial Worker by dangers• US $18of vanguardism for individuals. and the oxymo- Friday, October 3, 2014. Celebrate the safer conditions, and the like, and these of capitalism wherever it is found, but to • US $30 for institutions. goals are clearly embraced by the inter- decide at the drop of a hat that coopera- ronic idea of a workers’ state. In Pyotr lives of those who have struggled for Kropotkin’s• US $30 words, for internationals.Marx’s vision of how the working class with your message of national worker cooperative movement tives are worthless because they aren’t yet in general, as exemplified in FW Ogier’s all synchronized, or because capitalist to achieve socialism was antagonistic to solidarity. Send announcements to iw@ theName: strategy ______of “direct economical struggle iww.org. Much appreciated donations experience with the Rainbow Grocery. businesses still also exist, doesn’t seem Address:______I, myself, am also a worker-owner in a sound to me at all. against capitalism, without interfering in for the following sizes should be sent to: State/Province:______collectively-managed cooperative. Indeed, All in all, it sounds to me like FW Ogier the political parliamentary agitation.” IWW GHQ, P.O. Box 180195, the pay is higher than it was prior to 2011, needs to stop and take a deep breath be- Zip/PC______Marx also said that if you tell a capital- Chicago, IL 60618, United States. when my co-workers and I organized to fore making any more hasty career moves. ist youSend are going to: PO to hang Box him, 180195, he’ll try to $12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide buy out the business and turned it into a Maybe this FW can work at Rainbow part sell youChicago the rope. ILBut 60618 most workers USA find $40 for 4” by 2 columns worker cooperative. Now we have as much time and salt on the side? Best of luck. out quickly a boss will do anything for a $90 for a quarter page control over our jobs as the nature of the - x365097 buck, sometimesSubscribe at the Today!expense of every- one involved. Thanks, Karl! And while Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Asia Cymru/Wales Caerdydd/Cardiff GMB: [email protected] Florida New Mexico Industrial Unionism Taiwan Edinburgh GMB: [email protected] Gainesville GMB: c/o Civic Media Center, 433 S. Main St., Albuquerque GMB: P.O. Box 4892, 87196-4892. 505- Tyne & Wear GMB: [email protected] 32601. Robbie Czopek, del., 904-315-5292, gainesvil- 569-0168, [email protected] Taiwan IWW: c/o David Temple, 4 Floor, No. 3, Ln. 67, [email protected], www.gainesvilleiww.org Organization Shujing St., Beitun Dist., Taichung City 40641 Taiwan. Bradford GMB: [email protected] New York South Florida GMB: P.O. Box 370457, 33137. 305-894- 098-937-7029. [email protected] Leeds GMB: [email protected] New York City GMB: 45-02 23rd Street, Suite #2, Long Education 6515. [email protected], http://iwwmiami.wordpress. Island City,11101. [email protected]. www.wobblycity. Australia Manchester GMB: [email protected] com. Facebook: Miami IWW Emancipation New South Wales org Sheffield GMB: [email protected] Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455-6608. Starbucks Campaign: [email protected], Sydney GMB: [email protected]. Laura, del., Nottingham GMB: [email protected] 772-545-9591, [email protected] www.starbucksunion.org Official newspaper of the [email protected]. Georgia Newcastle: [email protected] West Midlands GMB: [email protected] Hudson Valley GMB: P.O. Box 48, Huguenot 12746. 845- Industrial Workers Atlanta GMB: P.O. Box 5390, 31107. 678-964-5169, 342-3405. [email protected]. http://hviww.blogspot. Woolongong: [email protected] Bristol GMB: [email protected] [email protected], www.atliww.org Reading GMB: [email protected] com/ of the World Lismore: [email protected] Idaho Syracuse IWW: [email protected] Post Office Box 180195 Queensland London GMB: [email protected] Boise: Ritchie Eppink, del., P.O. Box 453, 83701. 208-371- Belgium Upstate NY GMB: P.O. Box 77, Altamont, 12009. 518- Chicago, IL 60618 USA Brisbane: P.O. Box 5842, West End, Qld 4101. iww- 9752, [email protected] 861-5627. [email protected] [email protected]. Asger, del., happyanarchy@riseup. Floris De Rycker, Sint-Bavoplein 7, 2530 Boechout, Illinois Utica IWW: Brendan Maslauskas Dunn, del., 315-240- 773.728.0996 • [email protected] net Belgium. [email protected] Chicago GMB: P.O. Box 15384, 60615. 312-638-9155, 3149. [email protected] South Australia German Language Area [email protected] North Carolina www.iww.org Adelaide: [email protected], www.wobbliesSA. IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing org. Jesse, del., 0432 130 082 Committee (GLAMROC): IWW, Haberweg 19, 61352 Bad Indiana Greensboro GMB: P. O. Box 5022, 27435. 1-855-IWW-4- Homburg, Germany. [email protected]. www. Indiana GMB: [email protected]. Facebook: GSO (855-499-4476). [email protected] General Secretary-Treasurer: Victoria North Dakota Melbourne: P.O. Box 145, Moreland, VIC 3058. mel- wobblies.de Indiana IWW Monika Vykoukal [email protected], www.iwwmelbourne. Austria: [email protected], [email protected]. Iowa Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. wordpress.com. Loki, del., lachlan.campbell.type@ www.iwwaustria.wordpress.com. Eastern Iowa IWW: 319-333-2476. EasternIowaIWW@ com General Executive Board: gmail.com Berlin: Offenes Treffen jeden 2.Montag im Monat im Cafe gmail.com Ohio Geelong: [email protected] Commune, Reichenberger Str.157, 10999 Berlin, 18 Uhr. Kansas Mid-Ohio GMB: c/o Riffe, 4071 Indianola Ave., Columbus Ryan G., DJ Alperovitz, (U-Bahnhof Kottbusser Tor). Postadresse: IWW Berlin, c/o 43214. [email protected] Western Australia Rotes Antiquariat, Rungestr. 20, 10179 Berlin, Germany. Lawrence GMB: P.O. Box 1462, 66044. 816-875-6060 Brian Latour, Michael White, Perth GMB: P.O. Box 1, Cannington WA 6987. perthwob- [email protected]. Wichita: Naythan Smith, del., 316-633-0591.nrsmith85@ Northeast Ohio GMB: P.O. Box 141072, Cleveland 44114. gmail.com 440-941-0999 Jim Del Duca, Kate D., [email protected]. Bruce, del.,coronation78@hotmail. Bremen: [email protected]. iwwbremen. com Kentucky Ohio Valley GMB: P.O. Box 6042, Cincinnati 45206, 513- Montigue Magruder blogsport.de 510-1486, [email protected] Canada Cologne/Koeln GMB: c/o Allerweltshaus, Koernerstr. Kentucky GMB: Mick Parsons, Secretary Treasurer, IWW Canadian Regional Organizing Committee (CAN- 77-79, 50823 Koeln, Germany. [email protected]. [email protected]. 502-658-0299 Sweet Patches Screenprinting: [email protected] ROC): c/o Toronto GMB, P.O. Box 45 Toronto P, Toronto ON, Oklahoma Editor & Graphic Designer: www.iwwcologne.wordpress.com Louisiana M5S 2S6. [email protected] Frankfurt - Eurest: IWW Betriebsgruppe Eurest Louisiana IWW: John Mark Crowder, del.,126 Kelly Lane, Tulsa: P.O. Box 213, Medicine Park 73557, 580-529-3360 Diane Krauthamer Alberta Haberweg 19 D- 61352 Bad Homburg. harald.stubbe@ Homer, 71040. 318-224-1472. [email protected] Oregon [email protected] Edmonton GMB: P.O. Box 4197, T6E 4T2. edmontongmb@ yahoo.de. Maine Lane GMB: Ed Gunderson, del., 541-743-5681. x355153@ iww.org, edmonton.iww.ca. Hamburg-Waterkant: [email protected] Maine IWW: 207-619-0842. [email protected], www. iww.org, www.iwwlane.org British Columbia Kassel: [email protected]. www.wobblies-kassel. southernmaineiww.org Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., 97214, 503-231- Proofreaders: Red Lion Press: [email protected] de Maryland 5488. [email protected], portlandiww.org Maria Rodriguez Gil, Vancouver GMB: 204-2274 York Ave., V6K 1C6. Munich: [email protected] Baltimore GMB: P.O. Box 33350, 21218. baltimoreiww@ Portland Red and Black Cafe: 400 SE 12th Ave, 97214. 604-732-9613. [email protected]. www. 503-231-3899. [email protected]. www. Anthony Cage, Joel Gosse, vancouveriww.com Rostock: [email protected]. iww-rostock.net gmail.com Switzerland: [email protected] Massachusetts redandblackcafe.com Jonathan D. Beasley, Jacob Brent, Vancouver Island GMB: Box 297 St. A, Nanaimo BC, V9R Pennsylvania 5K9. [email protected]. http://vanislewobs.wordpress. Greece: [email protected], [email protected] Boston Area GMB: P.O. Box 391724, Cambridge, 02139. 617-863-7920, [email protected], www.IW- Lancaster IWW: P.O. Box 352, 17608. 717-559-0797. Don Sawyer, Nicki Meier com Iceland: Heimssamband Verkafólks / IWW Iceland, [email protected] Manitoba Reykjavíkurakademíunni 516, Hringbraut 121,107 WBoston.org Neil Parthun, Skylaar Amann, Reykjavík Cape Cod/SE Massachusetts: [email protected] Lehigh Valley GMB: P.O. Box 1477, Allentown, 18105- Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, P.O. Box 1, R3C 2G1. 1477. 484-275-0873. [email protected]. Chris Heffner, Billy O’Connor, 204-299-5042, [email protected] Lithuania: [email protected] Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, P.O. Box 1581, Northampton, 01061 www. facebook.com/lehighvalleyiww David Patrick, New Brunswick Netherlands: [email protected] Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: 610-358-9496. pa- Fredericton: [email protected], Norway IWW: 004793656014. post@iwwnorge. Michigan Zachary Snowdon Smith frederictoniww.wordpress.com [email protected], www.papercranepress.com org. http://www.iwwnorge.org, www.facebook.com/ Detroit GMB: 4210 Trumbull Blvd., 48208. detroit@ Pittsburgh GMB: P.O. Box 5912,15210. 412-894-0558. Ontario iwwnorge. Twitter: @IWWnorge iww.org. [email protected] Printer: Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: 1106 Wellington United States Grand Rapids GMB: P.O. Box 6629, 49516. 616-881-5263. Rhode Island St., P.O. Box 36042, Ottawa, K1Y 4V3. [email protected], Alabama [email protected] Globe Direct/Boston Globe Media [email protected] Providence GMB: P.O. Box 23067, 02903. 401-484-8523. Mobile: Jimmy Broadhead, del., P.O. Box 160073, 36616. Grand Rapids Bartertown Diner and Roc’s Cakes: 6 [email protected] Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Raymond Loomer, interim [email protected] Jefferson St., 49503. [email protected], www. Millbury, MA delegate, [email protected] bartertowngr.com Tennessee Alaska Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason 48854. Mid-Tennessee IWW: Jonathan Beasley, del., 218 S 3rd 705-749-9694. Sean Carleton, del., 705-775-0663, Fairbanks GMB: P. O. Box 80101, 99708. Chris White, del., 517-676-9446, [email protected] St. Apt. 7-6, Clarksville, 37040. [email protected] Next deadline is [email protected] 907-457-2543, [email protected]. Facebook: IWW Fairbanks Minnesota Texas September 5, 2014 Toronto GMB: P.O. Box 45, Toronto P, M5S 2S6. 647-741- Duluth IWW: P.O. Box 3232, 55803. iwwduluth@riseup. Houston: Gus Breslauer, del., [email protected]. 4998. [email protected]. www.torontoiww.org Arizona net Facebook: Houston IWW Windsor GMB: c/o WWAC, 328 Pelissier St., N9A 4K7. Phoenix GMB: P.O. Box 7126, 85011-7126. 623-336- Pedal Power Press: P.O. Box 3232 Duluth 55803.www. Rio Grande Valley, South Texas IWW: Greg, del., U.S. IW mailing address: 519-564-8036. [email protected]. http://wind- 1062. [email protected] pedalpowerpress.com 956-278-5235 or Marco, del., 979-436-3719. iwwrgv@ soriww.wordpress.com IW, Post Office Box 180195, Flagstaff IWW: 206-327-4158, [email protected] Phoenix Mental Health, P.L.C.: FW Jeffrey Shea Jones, riseup.net. www.facebook.com/IWWRGV Chicago, IL 60618, United Québec Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): 970-903-8721, 4corners@ 3137 Hennepin Ave. S., #102, Minneapolis 55408. Utah Montreal GMB: cp 60124, Montréal, QC, H2J 4E1. 514- iww.org 612-501-6807 Salt Lake City GMB: P.O. Box 1227, 84110. 801-871- States 268-3394. [email protected] Arkansas Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. 9057. [email protected] Europe Fayetteville: P.O. Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859. com Vermont ISSN 0019-8870 European Regional Administration (ERA): P.O. Box 7593 [email protected] Twin Cities GMB: 3019 Minnehaha Ave. South, Suite 50, Glasgow, G42 2EX. www.iww.org.uk Minneapolis 55406. [email protected] Burlington: John MacLean, del., 802-540-2561 Periodicals postage California Virginia ERA Organisation Contacts Los Angeles GMB: (323) 374-3499. iwwgmbla@gmail. Missouri paid Chicago, IL. Central England Organiser: Russ Spring, central@iww. com Greater Kansas City IWW: P.O. Box 414304, Kansas City, Richmond IWW: P.O. Box 7055, 23221. 804-496-1568. org.uk 64141. 816.875.6060. 816-866-3808. greaterkciww@ [email protected], www.richmondiww.org Sacramento IWW: 916-825-0873, iwwsacramento@ Washington Postmaster: Send address Communications Department: communications@iww. gmail.com gmail.com org.uk San Diego IWW: 619-630-5537, [email protected] St. Louis IWW: P.O. Box 63142, 63163. Secretary: stl. Bremerton: Gordon Glick, del., [email protected] changes to IW, Post Office Box Cymru/Wales Organiser: Danny Bowles, cymruwales@ [email protected]. Treasurer stl.iww.treasurer@ Bellingham (Professional Roofcare Job Shop): IWWBel- San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buyback IU gmail.com 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA iww.org.uk 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain Fabrics Job Shop [email protected]. www.bellinghamiww.com. East of Scotland Organiser: Dek Keenan, eastscotland@ and IU 410 Garment and Textile Worker’s Industrial Montana Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. 206-429- iww.org.uk Organizing Committee; Shattuck Cinemas; Embarcadero Construction Workers IU 330: Dennis Georg, del., 406- 5285. [email protected]. www.seattleiww.org, SUBSCRIPTIONS Membership Administrator: Rob Stirling, membership@ Cinemas) P.O. Box 11412, Berkeley, 94712. 510-845- 490-3869, [email protected] www.seattle.net Individual Subscriptions: $18 iww.org.uk 0540. [email protected] Two Rivers IWW: Jim Del Duca, del., 106 Paisley Court, Wisconsin Merchandise Committee: [email protected] IU 520 Marine Transport Workers: Steve Ongerth, del., Apt. I, Bozeman 59715. 406-599-2463. delducja@ Madison GMB: P.O. Box 2442, 53701-2442. www. International Subscriptions: $30 gmail.com Organising and Bargaining Support Department: [email protected] madison.iww.org Library/Institution Subs: $30/year [email protected] Evergreen Printing: 2412 Palmetto Street, Oakland Nebraska IUB 560 - Communications and Computer Workers: P.O. Union dues includes subscription. Research and Survey Department: [email protected] 94602. 510-482-4547. [email protected] Nebraska GMB: P.O. Box 27811, Ralston, 68127. nebras- Box 259279, Madison 53725. 608-620-IWW1. Madiso- [email protected]. www.nebraskaiww.org Secretary: Frank Syratt, [email protected] San Jose: [email protected], www.facebook. [email protected]. www.Madisoniub560.iww.org com/SJSV.IWW Nevada Published monthly with the excep- Southern England Organiser: Nick Ballard, south@iww. Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson, tion of February and August. org.uk Colorado Reno GMB: P.O. Box 12173, 89510. Paul Lenart, del., 53703. 608-255-1800. Jerry Chernow, del., jerry@ Denver GMB: c/o Hughes, 7700 E. 29th Avenue, Unit 107, 775-513-7523, [email protected] lakesidepress.org. www.lakesidepress.org Tech Committee: [email protected] Madison Infoshop Job Shop:1019 Williamson St. #B, 80238. 303-355-2032. [email protected] IU 520 Railroad Workers: Ron Kaminkow, del., P.O. Box Training Department: [email protected] Connecticut 53703. 608-262-9036 Articles not so designated do Treasurer: Matt Tucker, [email protected] 2131, Reno, 89505. 608-358-5771. ronkaminkow@ Connecticut: John W., del., 914-258-0941. Johnw7813@ yahoo.com Just Coffee Job Shop IU 460: 1129 E. Wilson, Madison, not reflect the IWW’s West of Scotland Organiser: Keith Millar, westscotland@ yahoo.com 53703. 608-204-9011, justcoffee.coop iww.org.uk New Jersey official position. DC Central New Jersey GMB: P.O. Box 10021, New Brunswick, Railroad Workers IU 520: 608-358-5771. railfalcon@ Women’s Officer: Marion Hersh, [email protected] yahoo.com Washington DC GMB: P.O. Box 1303, 20013. 202-630- 08906. 732-692-3491. [email protected]. Bob Press Date: August 22, 2014 ERA Branches 9620. [email protected]. www.dciww.org, www. Ratynski, del., 908-285-5426. www.newjerseyiww.org Milwaukee GMB: P.O. Box 342294, 53234. 630-415-7315 Clydeside GMB: [email protected] facebook.com/dciww Northern New Jersey: 201-800-2471. [email protected] Northwoods IWW: P.O. Box 452, Stevens Point, 54481 September 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 3 Anti-Sexism Fighting Patriarchy In The One Big Union Events of harassment, sexual violence, no place in this union. forming individuals in or an outline previously agreed-upon for abuse and misogyny have transpired in And while we have all our organization, and approaching these conflicts and seeking many branches and projects of the IWW. internalized aspects of to prevent incidents of solid, fellow worker-affirming solutions However grassroots and radical our systemic oppression, abuse. can fast track our branches/organiz- union’s purpose is, as a union made up en- to spur true revolution Let us always work ing committees towards resolutions. tirely of peers, without bosses, we are not we need to address in true solidarity with These resolutions, when found with the exempt from societal norms—such as the these internalizations all of our fellow work- survivor(s) wishes being of highest prior- subjugation of people based on sex, gender in ourselves and enter ers. ity, may lead to gender nonconforming and identity, race, disability, sexual orientation into a dialogue with Some things that women fellow workers staying participa- and class. Women and gendered minori- each other. branches can do to tory members of our union. How these ties within this union are intensely and dis- In order to do this combat patriarchy are: conflicts are handled won’t solely affect proportionately affected and victimized by we must be present 1. Take all concerns whether a member stays an active mem- these incidents which are without a doubt and mindful of our about and instances of ber, or a member at all, but will and does the rotten fruit of patriarchy. thoughts and actions patriarchy seriously affect how the survivor(s) remain engaged The result is often the resignation and that perpetuate and Graphic: IWW Gender Equity Committee and start addressing in any social justice movements, or society continued disenfranchisement of valuable enable systems of oppression into the them immediately with care and respect in general. A spurned survivor often goes and capable fellow workers. These fellow new world we wish to create. If we do not for survivors. This will help deter similar into complete isolation when not heard workers are lost to our cause because of learn to effectively confront patriarchy we behavior. It sets a precedent and can or supported. This is clearly furthering our union’s frequent inability to enact are merely perpetuating the agenda of the prevent the patriarchal behavior from patriarchy’s agenda. compassionate healing and judicial pro- capitalist class and furthering a divided escalating. 7. Learn to be “called out.” In other cesses. working class. When we are unable to suc- 2. Respect the privacy and vulner- words, resist the urge to become angry The IWW Gender Equity Committee cessfully address these injuries it becomes ability of survivors and do not share their or defensive and instead learn to listen (GEC) strongly recommends that EVERY fodder for our critics and oppressors to name(s) or details about their situation(s) to our fellow workers when they have the branch of the IWW make the active resis- use against us. without their permission. courage to tell us that we or others have tance of patriarchy, sexual violence and It is a historic motto of our union 3. Form an anti-patriarchy/anti- violated their boundaries or contributed other forms of oppression a priority. We that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” oppression committee run by women and to their oppression, especially when we encourage our fellow workers to diligently This is never truer than when we are con- gender nonconforming fellow workers. do not understand. develop and effectively implement official fronted with patriarchal abuse. When our Consult “A brief guide to creating a group 8. Do not leave the vigilance, surveil- practices and policies that address inci- branches have to redirect time, energy, that can work to dismantle patriarchy in lance or correction of patriarchal behavior dents of injury where terms of immediate and resources to rectify abuse, this is time, your branch,” written by the Portland to those most often victimized by it. If we relief, punitive action, and transforma- energy, and resources taken away from Patriarchy Resistance Committee which see something bogus happening, we need tive justice prioritize the needs of the organizing campaigns, projects, direct ac- can be obtained through the GEC listserv to say something or check in with our fel- survivor(s). We also encourage branches tions, and the morale of this organization. (http://lists.iww.org/listinfo/gendere- low worker(s). and members to thoroughly familiarize It is important to recognize that when an quity). Report on the work of your com- 9. Be mindful of the subtle manifesta- themselves with the existing complaints issue arises it deserves a branch’s full at- mittee to the GEC listserv and share what tions of patriarchy in language. Remember procedure and conflict resolution poli- tention and needs to be taken seriously. you learn with fellow workers in other that we live in a society that has created cies outlined in Article III of the IWW Let us agree here and now that the branches. norms and preconceived notions within Constitution’s General Bylaws, as well as safety, well-being, respect, and trust of 4. Create a “Safer Spaces Policy” for us. We must be mindful to the language any additional relevant policies that may our fellow workers needs to always be your branch. we use that acts to advance capitalism, already exist within your branch. paramount in our organizing and that the 5. Host workshops, discussions and patriarchy and other forms of oppression. If we are really going to work in solidar- tools of our oppressors are NOT welcome events that allow members time to grapple Slurs, jokes, condescending tones, “troll- ity with each other then we cannot stand in our organizing. with and learn about patriarchy and the ing,” and rationalizations are all a part idly by while the safety and well-being of Let us vow to be careful with each way it intersects with capitalism and other of an agenda to divide. We must work to gendered minorities and female mem- other so that we can be strong together. Let forms of oppression. wipe these elements of communication bers are cast aside. Patriarchy, misogyny, us work diligently to respect and support 6. Learn to embrace conflict, think from our organizational efforts in order sexual violence, harassment, gaslighting, survivors and encourage their participa- towards solutions and develop processes to create stronger solidarity between all domination, condescension and privilege tion within our union, to support and for dealing with problems before matters members. are tools of our oppressors and they have encourage women and gender noncon- escalate. Having a process, a procedure, 10. Be mindful of our immediate biased relationships with the accused IWW Constitution Preamble (family, romantic or sexual partners, The working class and the employing Join the IWW Today friendships, etc.) and recuse ourselves class have nothing in common. There can he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the from participation in rectification pro- be no peace so long as hunger and want job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions cesses when necessary or requested by a are found among millions of working T today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and survivor/complainant. people and the few, who make up the em- distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire 11. Hire trained conflict resolution ploying class, have all the good things of population, not merely a handful of exploiters. facilitators (from outside the branch) life. Between these two classes a struggle We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially ­– with expertise in patriarchal oppression 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 / sexual violence / transformative justice organize as a class, take possession of the workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. to assist with restoration. Utilize what we means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a learn to continue this work, when possible, system, and live in harmony with the truly international union movement in order to confront the global power of the within the union. We may also call on an- earth. bosses and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fel- We find that the centering of the other branch for assistance with conflict low workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. resolution 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- 12. Be honest and transparent while representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- working through problematic situations 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 within our branches. Communicate pro- but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes foster a state of affairs which allows one cesses and results clearly to the union at this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with set of workers to be pitted against another large whenever possible to avoid misun- set of workers in the same industry, an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. derstanding and gossip. This may mean thereby helping defeat one another in Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific electing a point of contact or preparing a wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions workplace, or across an industry. statement for other curious fellow workers aid the employing class to mislead the Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what is- outside of your branch. workers into the belief that the working sues to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. 13. Try to assume that our fellow work- class have interests in common with their ers are working towards the same goal of TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation employers. anti-oppression. Note that not all survi- and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 180195, Chicago, IL These conditions can be changed and vors will agree about strategy. Survivors 60618, USA. the interest of the working class upheld and allies can and should work together only by an organization formed in such Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated by listening to and respecting each other a way that all its members in any one according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues in order to help create a safer union. industry, or all industries if necessary, are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, 14. Reach out to the members of the cease work whenever a strike or lockout is dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues Gender Equity Committee for resources, on in any department thereof, thus mak- are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional guidance, support or help with anything on ing an injury to one an injury to all. Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). Instead of the conservative motto, “A this list. Join our listserv by emailing Gen- 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. [email protected], or visit: http:// must inscribe on our banner the revolu- __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. lists.iww.org/listinfo/genderequity. tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. Always in Solidarity, It is the historic mission of the work- Name:______The Industrial Workers of the ing class to do away with capitalism. The Address:______World Gender Equity Committee army of production must be organized, and Contributors City, State, Post Code, Country:______not only for the everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on produc- Occupation:______Voting members: Nicki M., Dakota D., tion when capitalism shall have been Phone:______Email:______Sarah M., Lauren V., Ryan G. overthrown. By organizing industrially Amount Enclosed:______we are forming the structure of the new Additional Contributors: Amity D., Ka- Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker. society within the shell of the old. leigh H., Liberte L., Monika V. Page 4 • Industrial Worker • September 2014 Working For A Hypocritical Business Union By X359437 Recently, I worked for a business union. I knew this was going to be a lousy job before I even started; it was slated to be a part-time temp job in the AFL-CIO’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Before I started working there, two of my future bosses gave me three dif- ferent answers on what my start time would be on my first day of work. I arbitrarily came up with a time that would work best for me. When I walked into work on my first day, my primary Photo: X359437 boss, Bonnie (one of five bosses), told me the “tone” of my email. Julie then sug- that we would use the “honor’s system” to gested that I send Bonnie a new email to keep track of my hours, which were not to apologize and ask for her permission to exceed 20 per week. That was the moment work these hours. Julie proceeded to give I decided to start a workplace journal and me a lecture on the difference in how old to keep track of the hours myself, because and “younger” people communicate—as this was not the first business union I had though the problem was because of gen- worked for, and it wasn’t the first time I’ve erational differences. heard the “honor’s system” line. I did a little research and found that Hours and scheduling were ongoing there was a union representing union staff issues throughout my time working there. members. I did not know if the workers in I spoke with a fellow worker from my lo- my workplace were covered by a contract. cal branch about these problems and she If we were then this union was the union helped me determine that a large part of to which we would belong. After frantic the problem at my job came from a lack phone calls, I found the person who would of paper trail. have been my shop steward if we had a When I started this job, Bonnie told contract. She told me that the workplace me to work nearly full-time hours dur- was not represented. The last time they ing what was a particularly busy time in had a contract was 20 years ago, before the my life. Bonnie didn’t confirm the hours organization “let go” of everyone working I worked, she did not even write them there who was on the bargaining com- down, so as far as I knew I would only be mittee. I was not surprised to learn that paid for a 20-hour work-week even when another business union could not help I was working 30-plus hours. When I sent resolve the problems with the business Bonnie emails about this to either confirm union that I worked for. in writing that I would be paid for the After persistently sending emails to overtime, or confirm in writing that I could Bonnie demanding part-time hours, I work only the 20 hours she allotted, she was able to secure a 20-hour work week. responded by calling me. In fact, she called I secured this over email so that I had my personal cell phone when I was off the this agreement from my boss in writing. clock, and I knew I had to put a stop to this. A few weeks later, after additional verbal I blocked her number, and she eventually abuse and other workplace issues which stopped trying to call my cell phone. are too numerous to discuss here, I quit The following week, again when Bon- that terrible job. nie asked me to work nearly 30 hours, I Quitting that job was important for my again sent her an email telling her I could sanity, but the underlying problems were not work more than 20 hours that week not resolved. There remained the issue of and every week from that point forward. the hypocrisy of working for a place which Through inside sources I saw that Bonnie claims to fight for the things that they don’t immediately forwarded my message to provide for their own employees. Still, it her colleague and close friend, Julie (who is possible to gain a certain sense of vic- also was another one of my bosses), with tory for fighting for something that you snarky commentary, as though I was not deserve. We cannot solve the problems of entitled to ask that I be able to work the business unions overnight. If we are union hours I was slated to work. staff members or business union members Following this, Julie called me into it is important that we learn how to deal her office for a closed-door meeting. She with business unions. Through organizing told me that Bonnie was taken “aback” by on the job for ourselves and our fellow my email—not because of my scheduling workers, we can set powerful examples for Graphic: Mike Konopacki request, that was fine, but she didn’t like the struggles ahead. Reclaiming Time On The Clock Musings from a library worker about ing their whimsical cover. Mostly though because of the stress our condition places the burdens of wage labor, dreams of frustrations on us the I spend my reclaimed on us. Working does horrible things to liberation and reclaiming your time on minions—occasionally time social networking the soul of a human. the clock. showing up to bark at or thinking about how I take solace in the fact that I know us about being on task much I miss kissing freedom is out there and that it can be By Chuck Allen or getting our work my partner. achieved for all of us. We can get to that I wrote this on the clock. done (which of course Occasionally, I place where we can be with our mothers I’ve never been much for writing, but we always do). glance over at my co- and partners, where we can philosophize Nelson Mandela once said, “A good head But how can worker trying to find a and garden, and where we no longer and a good heart are always a formidable I blame the boss? I way to get their daugh- have to bear the burdensome identity of combination. But when you add to that know deep down un- ter into a good school “worker.” I hope that writing this on the a literate tongue or pen, then you have der all that boss, there or an apartment in a clock can be a small beacon to all of you something very special.” is a middle manager better neighborhood. other toilers out there. Take back your I’m not so certain I have any of the who has their own Sometimes we talk time when you can! Maybe it can be used ingredients that make up Mandels’s for- boss to deal with and about the things we to hatch a plot to smash the last clock and Graphic: iwwmiami.wordpress.com midable combination, but I thought that would rather be some- have seen in life or the we can reminisce about what life was like in his honor, I’d give it my absolute best. where enjoying life off the clock. places we have been. I usually don’t bother. under capitalism. I work with two other employees in This is precisely why I decided to write I know we’re both dreaming about a For now I’ve got to get back to “work” a corporate library, one of whom is my this at work: as an act of defiance. An at- life off the clock; grasping for it through before my boss discovers this subversive boss and the other my co-worker. I think tempt to reclaim the hours lost each day the monitors that we can sometimes feel activity, but I know that days like this that we, the two subordinates, are quite to wage slavery. shackled in front of. There are moments are numbered. We might be workers efficient workers. Sometimes I think we I try to spend as much time as I can that you have almost forgotten where you today, but soon we’ll be free people, left might even be good friends if we met here living the rest of my life, whether that are when the boss shows up to bark more to choose to do with our time what we somewhere else. The boss really isn’t is planning my next adventure or trying orders and we find ourselves suddenly desire. half bad either, except for finding some to figure out how I’m going to pay for the pulled back into the reality of working life. I’ll see you all there on the other side. enjoyment in being a boss and unleash- dental treatment that my insurance won’t Often we end up on each other’s nerves It’s going to be wonderful. September 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 5 Wobbly & North American News Starbucks: Making Profits Off Workers’ Backs Against The Felony Question On Job Applications By the IWW Starbucks Workers for social responsibility, barista wages By the IWW Incarcerated Union are often below the $9 per hour national Workers Organizing Com- The IWW Starbucks Workers Union median wage. Many workers also lack mittee (SWU) released a report on Aug. 12, titled access to affordable health care, with less The IWW Incarcerated “Low Wages and Grande Profit at Star- than half of the workers participating in Workers Organizing Committee bucks” (http://www.starbucksunion.org/ the company health plan. There is also (IWOC) opposes all forms and new-report-low-wages-and-grande-prof- erratic scheduling and inadequate hours, methods of exploitation that the its-starbucks), with an analysis of com- with many workers assigned only 20 to 30 ruling class uses to disempower pany performance over the last decade. hours per week. and disenfranchise working The report describes how The report calls on people. The IWOC stands in Starbucks has dramati- the company to compen- solidarity with those individuals cally improved profit- sate its workers with a who are released from prison ability at the company living wage, ensure better only to find that they are effec- Photo: IWOC since the Great Reces- store staffing and sched- tively barred from obtaining employment find that society’s perception of them has sion of 2008-2009, and uling, and respect the due to the question “Have you ever been changed. People who are released from that the company has workers’ rights to orga- convicted of a felony?” which is found on prison are then shunned and looked at enriched shareholders at nize a union. most job applications. solely as “ex-cons.” In a sense, people are the expense of its nearly The week this report The IWOC recognizes that the felony not being completely released from prison 200,000 workers. came out, the New York question does not serve the interests of as the stigma of “ex-con” bars one from The report finds that Times published an ar- working people, nor does the question employment. “an analysis of company Photo: iwwmiami.wordpress.com ticle on the effects of the improve or fix the work, social, and eco- The IWOC interprets the use of the performance and staffing before and after company’s terrible scheduling system on nomic conditions that plague our society. felony question as a form of perpetual the Great Recession of 2008-2009 shows workers, and Starbucks responded fairly Therefore, the IWOC opposes the em- criminalization and disenfranchisement that the stores are now staffed at a lower quickly with a revised scheduling policy ployers’ practice of using the generalized of the working class while its use furthers level, workers are working harder, and that will supposedly curb the practice of felony question on job applications. the mechanisms of mass incarceration they are bringing in much more profit for “clopening” (when workers close the store We believe that as presently practiced, and serves the interests of the employing the company. Instead of funding a living late at night and return just a few hours mass incarceration under the guise of a class. The IWOC is firmly rooted in the wage for workers, the company has trans- later to reopen), require that all work war on crime or a war on drugs is actu- practice of “An Injury To One Is An Injury ferred almost $4 billion to shareholders in hours be posted at least one week in ad- ally a war on the working class. Through To All!” Therefore, we stand in solidarity the past few years, equivalent to over $3 vance, and allow baristas with more than such a guise, an important fact is often with people released from prison that are per hour for every worker at the company.” an hour’s commute to be given the option forgotten and hidden in plain sight; the striving to reintegrate back into society At a time when retail and fast-food to transfer to more convenient locations. overwhelming majority of individuals and attempting to obtain employment workers are organizing for higher wages While these are steps in the right direction, who are sent to prison are members of while trying to break through the felony and the right to organize a union, the more progress is needed on improving the the working class. These individuals will question barrier. We denounce such working conditions at Starbucks remain company’s working conditions. For more one day be released from prison only to weapons against working people. inadequate for its “partners” to support a information, contact the SWU at iwwstar- family. Despite the company’s reputation [email protected]. Longshore Workers Protest In Washington By John Kalwaic per day for the pro- On July 21, posed Keystone XL Philadelphia Area Rail Workers Strike longshore workers Pipeline. This crude By John Kalwaic from the Interna- oil would provide On June 14, regional rail work- tional Longshore for 32 percent of the ers of the Southeastern Pennsylva- and Warehouse oil in the Keystone nia Transport Authority (SEPTA) Union (ILWU) Lo- Pipeline and will be went on a two-day strike. The strike cal 4 raised a ban- loaded on the port was shortened because Pennsylva- ner in remembrance and then transported nia Governor Tom Corbett asked for of the Lac-Mégantic by train. ILWU Local President Obama’s help in ending oil train crash that 4 has taken a strong the strike, as it affected thousands of killed 47 people one Banner remembering Photo: ecology.iww.org stance against this commuters. The collective bargain- year ago. The ILWU 47 people killed. proposal, citing the ing conflict between the Brother- banner was raised above the Port of Van- unsafe conditions that crude oil, and par- hood of Locomotive Engineers and Photo: wikimedia.org couver, Wash., calling out unsafe condi- ticularly crude oil trains, would pose on Trainmen, one of the unions representing these SEPTA workers. When the strike tions and unfair labor practices. workers. Crude oil trains have had many these workers, and SEPTA, centered on threatened to interrupt suburban com- The Port of Vancouver has been under notorious crashes in the last few years, wages and pensions continued for over muters, the government pulled out the intense criticism from union supporters which caused human and environmental a year, but the unions were reluctant to big guns. The union claims this as a since port authorities refused to help damage. “Longshoreman would be the strike. SEPTA has had many strikes in victory, and it was their plan all along to union workers locked out by the corporate guys tying up and letting the ships go, but the past years, but they usually revolved bring in the federal government to bring multinational United Grain Corporation, our local said, ‘no, the risk isn’t worth the around the trolley, bus and subway driv- SEPTA to the bargaining table. Although which uses the port for shipments. In ad- reward,’” said Cager Clabaugh, president ers and not the regional rail workers. doubts remain, that was indeed the case. dition, there has been a recent proposal of ILWU Local 4. “We don’t believe in jobs The state and federal government rarely With files fromBusiness Insider and by Tesoro for the Port of Vancouver to at any cost.” intervenes directly against the strikes of the Associated Press. transport 360,000 barrels of crude oil With files from http://ecology.iww.org. High Steaks: Tom Cat Bakery Workers Hold Solidarity Barbecue By Lawrence Goun and Biko Koenig Dominican specialties just opposite the in their home coun- Workers at Tom Cat Bakery sharp- factory entrance. After plenty of eating, tries, he pointed out ened their resistance against company people gathered in a large circle for an that his hard-earned attacks this summer with a solidarity bar- assembly-style speakout calling on the vacation provides becue held in front of the Queens-based company to accept a just contract. just enough time to factory in New York. Tom Cat’s private “With the company’s proposal to gut travel internationally. equity owners, Ancor and Merit Capital, our health care, cut sick days and vacation Under the proposed are seeking devastating health care cuts time, and get rid of our paid lunch breaks, vacation limits, im- and other takeaways from workers in con- we’d be out hundreds of dollars a month portant trips to visit tract negotiations with the bakery union in money we don’t have,” remarked Fellow family will have to be representing these worker. Dual-card Worker Aquino. “But we make the bread, canceled. IWW members are leading a struggle to not the investors in Texas and Illinois, and Workers were build long-term power and secure a good with the IWW we have a global community pleased with their contract, after beating back a decertifi- of allies to help us win.” tactical choice at this cation attempt from a mob-dominated The investors’ contract demands stage in the campaign union earlier this year. would force these low-wage workers to because more rich “These out-of-town investors already pay $300 per month for health care; an conversations and have their mansions, while we barely can expense that most workers simply cannot relationship-building Tom Cat workers in Queens. Photo: Ana Castro support our families. The cuts they’re de- afford. The loss of affordable health insur- took place than at a manding are impossible and we’re united ance would devastate families who depend traditional picket or rally. Workers at the lying workers. Coming out of the solidar- against them,” said Marino Aquino, just as much on the care as they depend barbecue and those who saw it while they ity barbecue, the workers—with support a night-shift packer at Tom Cat and a on the wages themselves. were on the clock were emboldened by from the nonprofit Brandworkers—are member of the IWW. “Our unity is our Workers with years of experience the sight of an action with a large group energized to defeat the cuts and build on strength and we will keep the pressure expressed their frustration over potential of allies right in front of the facility. One that winning foundation. The struggle on until justice prevails.” cuts to their pay and benefits. One worker worker who was scared to attend took a at Tom Cat is part of a larger rising of What’s a solidarity barbecue? Think discussed how important his time off has flyer and was subsequently moved to take immigrant Wobblies of color in New of a street protest except with pollo become for his life, but with the company’s out a red card and join the One Big Union. York City who are building an industrial guisado instead of picket signs. Work- proposal his vacation time would be dras- The IWW job shop at Tom Cat has a union inspired by the example of Local 8 ers, along with a diverse set of allies from tically reduced. Speaking on behalf of the two-and-a-half year track record of direct of the Maritime Transport Workers (the worker centers, food justice groups, and majority of workers who are immigrants action wins, including the firing of a 13- Philadelphia IWW dock workers who led immigrant rights’ organizations, grilled and use the time to visit family and friends year executive who took pleasure in bul- a powerful strike in 1913). Page 6 • Industrial Worker • September 2014 Special A Misstep On The Floor: Lessons From A Certified Nursing Assistant By Luz Sierra lated to organizing, and shared advice with The next day, I returned to work, and Therefore, she enlightened me about being Six weeks ago I resigned from my job. one another, I was able to obtain some saw that my co-workers were stressed out. capable of moving on and finding more I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant knowledge and learn some strategies on The resident had not died yet, but my boss decent employment. Not only that, she (CNA) in a residential home for the elderly how to organize at my workplace. From demanded that we feed her when the resi- told me that I am not simply unemployed. for about four years. I decided to resign such great collective work in the IWW, I dent clearly did not open her mouth and I am a hardworking, full-time student and once my boss removed me from the sched- was inspired to develop some organizing was refusing to eat. When we placed her a job-seeker instead of an unemployed in- ule. Her reasoning was that my availability experience and witness how my politics on a wheelchair, her head was completely dividual. She convinced me to call myself was suddenly unacceptable for her and she could be applied to my life and that of down and we had to lift it and force food a “job-seeker” rather than “unemployed,” did not approve of my performance any my co-workers. Therefore, I began to in her mouth. My co-workers were not which changed my mood. I know a word longer. This strangely occurred two weeks practice many strategies. I tried to struc- comfortable with such orders and the situ- cannot really change my current cir- after I attempted to organize an action at ture my conver- ation in general cumstances, but it motivated me to stay my workplace, so the rationale behind my sations with co- and shared senti- positive and help rebuild my composure. indirect firing seems obvious. I believe that workers in ways ments of raising I am now looking for jobs with ease and in my organizing I made some mistakes that would agitate this issue with my taking advantage of the time I have on my that I hope to illustrate and analyze in them about recent boss. hands now. this piece. abuse from our I had three In the end, I have learned valuable The setting is a recognized and pres- employer. I also co-workers will- lessons and gained insights by the mis- tigious retirement facility in Florida. It shared insights ing to fight and we takes I made from my recent organizing is known for its luxurious physical ap- and examples of were enthusiastic experience. For starters, I admit that I or- pearance and top health care service. Yet, how employees to discuss how to ganized the previous action the wrong way. underneath that ostentatious layer was worked together take this further I should not have texted my co-workers repression for its employees. As a young to fight against as a group, but the and instead should have contacted only a employee, I was appalled by what I saw in bad working con- next day the resi- few of them. I needed to inform every CNA Photo: iwwmiami.wordpress.com the facility. There was surveillance almost ditions and unfair dent was placed about forming an action and should have everywhere. We were under constant wages. And lastly, I provided emotional under hospice care and after one dose of done it by phone or face to face. It should supervision and pressure to work despite support and solidarity whenever my boss morphine she passed away. I was very sad have been planned and led by everyone as frequent threats of pay cuts, repudiated insulted one of us. Of course, I was aim- to hear such unfortunate news, as that was a collective and with more ease. Second, bonuses and being suspended from work. ing to go through the organizing process truly one of the worst deaths I had wit- I did not think before I acted. I allowed Unsafe working conditions where CNAs slowly and wisely. I was constantly revis- nessed as a medical worker. However, the my frustration and anxiety to push me were encouraged to lift heavy residents ing my workplace map, making small talk co-workers that I contacted to take action into making irrational decisions. I should without proper equipment or assistance whenever it was safe to do so, and also viewed her death in a different manner. have controlled my emotions and handled was something we had to do every day. patiently waiting for good opportunities to They saw it as a relief and lost interest in the situation more cleverly. Lastly, I as- Furthermore, the low staffing ratios made set one-on-one meetings with co-workers. taking action. They shared concerns of be- sumed my co-workers’ position before our work nearly unbearable since we usu- A new issue stopped me in my tracks. ing fired and did not feel that action was ever having in-depth conversations about ally worked with only two CNAs per shift One day, as I entered my workplace, I was necessary anymore. This was shocking to organizing and analyzing their views of and no medical supervisor while having at informed that one of the residents was not hear, and I decided to slow down and con- direct action. Even though I have known least 24 residents to take care of. doing well. She was refusing to eat, had tinue with the previous organizing process almost everyone for four solid years, I Even though I was sometimes treated a fever, and was basically unresponsive. that I had left behind. should have spent more time scrutinizing better than others, it was not pleasant to Like any medical worker, I asked my fellow The following week, I began to witness their willingness to fight, discovering how see my co-workers disrespected by insults, workers for any updates and read all the a change in my boss’s behavior toward me. they view such oppression at work and foul language and unfair accusations from shift reports available, yet no one notified She seemed to be very hostile by rarely providing at least some form of political my boss. I have witnessed co-workers in me she was in our facility in order to de- communicating with me and not trusting program or dialogue. It takes more than tears after being scolded, in pain from un- cease. Being unaware of such information, me anymore. For instance, when a resi- four years to build strong relationships safe lifting, under stress after their raises I was petrified and concerned about the dent appeared injured after the shift after with your co-workers, especially when they were taken away or their bonuses denied resident’s condition. This facility did not mine, she asked me how that occurred. I are accustomed to harsh treatment in the and depressed after being fired for dubi- have any proper care for her. My co-worker responded that I was not aware she was workplace and when there is little hope ous reasons. I did not have it easy either; I was an inexperienced registered nurse injured and that under my shift she was for change as many cannot find better jobs suffered as well. I would come home with and was afraid to communicate with my perfectly fine. She was not satisfied with and are dependent on their employment intolerable back pain and extreme anxiety boss. I was the only CNA who was able to my answer and even threatened to make for economic stability for their families. as I feared that I had not performed my check her vitals every hour and supervise me take a polygraph test. The week after Overall, even though I did lose my job well enough. I also became insecure her conditions whenever I had some time that, she asked me for the first time how job and am currently in shaky economic as my boss was not fond of the sound of available while simultaneously taking care many residents I had showered, and I circumstances, I have learned valuable my voice and did not shy away from brutal of more than 20 residents. I suggested to told her three. She became very upset lessons about organizing and about life in criticism about it. my boss that we send her to the hospital and stated that I was supposed to shower general. I have recognized the struggles Yet, above all the issues in my work- because she was in serious condition, but eight. I had to pressure residents to allow faced by low-paid health care workers in place, my co-workers and I managed to she refused to allow me to send the patient me to shower them so that I could appease retirement facilities. I’ve become aware of build strong relationships. Whenever to the emergency room. her. Finally, after a couple days from the how the elderly are mistreated by adminis- someone needed to be replaced, or to be Inevitably, I was forced to see this previous situation, my manager informed trators, medical insurers, and families, and lent a helping hand writing a report, or resident die under my watch. She did not me that my boss removed me from the I’ve also come to find out how difficult it is even just someone to talk to, we were there eat all day and had not stopped sleeping. schedule. That was a very painful day. to organize within the health care system. for each other. Even though there were It was a really horrible situation to witness I wasn’t prepared to be laid off. As Besides the previous, I realize now, in light certain CNAs who preferred to work with since this was a human being purposefully someone who is part of a working-class of it all, that I am more than just a labor specific co-workers and a few had conflicts being neglected of medical attention. Per- family and is one of its main financial entity. As many may have experienced, we with one another, we were able to form a sonally, it was horrendous and emotionally providers, I felt like I had lost a leg. A tend to think that our lives revolve around solid nursing team and find ways to help draining. I became furious and nervous couple of comrades were glad that I was our employment. We see it as something each other. I felt that, after four years, I and as a result, I made a decision to send no longer working in that facility since it inevitable and representative of who we had gotten to know every CNA well, but a text message, that same day, to a few co- was a horrible workplace and urged me to are, but that is not true. We are more than that wasn’t quite true when I attempted workers stating that we should take direct view this turning point as an opportunity just the value of our labor power. As a to create my first and last action in that action soon by confronting my boss in her to get a better job and take advantage of result, I had unconsciously forgotten that facility. office. Soon after, one of my co-workers the free time that I now had. Yet I felt like I was more than just a CNA. I am also a Four months before I was laid off, I called me and spent a whole hour sharing I was in a nightmare. I’m now forced to use full-time student, a daughter, a sister, an joined the IWW without any knowledge her frustration of what was happening and my savings and ask for loans from school aunt, a friend, and a devoted militant. I of workplace organizing. Through weekly agreeing to take action. I was very glad to which my parents don’t react kindly to. see now that this is a form of violence that workshop meetings where members hear that she was eager to fight and was They ask me every day if I have applied to surrounds our daily lives under capitalism mapped their workplace, read pieces re- hoping others would agree as well. any jobs and question my calmness toward and the power of the state. We lose touch the situation. with ourselves, our lives, and our world, During the first three weeks after I and instead are more connected with our Subscribe to the Industrial Worker was laid off, I slowly became emotion- wages. So for those who are unemployed ally unstable and depressed once again. I or not able to work, do not allow this toxic Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription. eventually had an emotional breakdown idea of worth linked with labor to destroy Give a gift that keeps your family or friends thinking. for an hour after reading an article titled you. We are more than just robotic ma- Get 10 issues of working class news and views for: “The Monster of Unemployment,” which chines that produce value. We are social • US $18 for individuals. talks about the psychological torture of not beings whose presence, wisdom, and aid • US $30 for library/institutions. having a job. I began to view myself as use- are important to the people in our lives. • US $30 for international subscriptions. less since I was no longer working and my With these new realizations, I hope to Name: ______ability to help my family had decreased. I move forward in life and obtain another Address:______truly felt like shit and wanted to end that CNA position, where I will make sure to feeling somehow. Luckily I was able to organize more intelligently and use my City/State/Province:______talk to my therapist and began to view experience as a tool to face difficult cases Zip/Postal Code:______this moment in life differently. She made and repression. I hope to have provided Send this subscription form to: me realize calling myself “unemployed” useful advice about organizing from the and desiring to return to my former job perspective of my mistakes and hope I Industrial Worker Subscriptions, was ridiculous because I really hated that have helped provide a sense of optimism PO Box 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA job; I was always complaining to her how to fellow workers who currently face un- Subscribe to the Industrial Worker today! overworked and mentally abused I was. employment. September 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 7 Front Page News Portland Canvass Workers Walk Off The Job, Demand Unpaid Wages Continued from 1 negotiate with the newly-formed union. being offered the wage that the UCW demands to the canvas director at the loca- This has come directly on the heels workers were originally offered, but tion, Kyle Purdy, who repeatedly screamed of several other attempts at unioniza- these wages were never actually and swore at the protesters. Claiming that tion for canvass and campaign workers, received. The workers even made he represented a “real grassroots” cam- most notably the recent labor disputes at several concessions, including health paign, he decried the workers’ attempt to Sisters’ Camelot in the Twin Cities, where care benefits, just to get management unionize as being insane and marginal. board members have used connections to the bargaining table. One of these “Grassroots doesn’t mean you’re held to in the local progressive culture to create was a call for a bonus for workers a different standard than everyone else,” divisions among the striking workers. with dependent children who were said UCW member Micha. “It means you Canvassing jobs, whether fundraising not able to purchase groceries after should hold yourself to a higher standard. for nonprofit organizations or promoting paychecks bounced. According to It means you are trying to effect positive specific legislation or candidates, have the workers, a manager made the social change.” been increasingly common in recent years, argument that it was “heteronorma- UCW members confront boss. Photo: Shane Burley The campaign has been working on whereby precarious work has become tive” to provide the bonus for people to work. He refused to take it, prompt- Oregon Cannabis Amendment (OCA), the standard. Many of these projects are caring for small children. “As a member of ing the group to return to the campaign Initiative Petition #21 (I-21), which would underfunded and bounced paychecks the LGBT community, I find that highly headquarters. Inside, management was end all legal penalties around marijuana have become a common complaint, not offensive,” said fellow UCW worker Ken conducting a training for another group of products and would even extend growing to mention the more standard issues that Kautz. “It is not ‘heteronormative’ to have new canvassers and had the door locked, permissions to Oregonians. It has been come with unstable employment like a lack dependents, to have children.” refusing to let the unionized campaign paired with the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, of say in decision making and schedul- After management threatened to call workers in to deliver their letter and return Initiative Petition #22 (I-22), that would ing. The Working Families Party, which in the police at the demonstration on June to work. Instead, they chose to continue override existing laws to create a new is often considered the “political wing” 13, the workers and community supporters an illegal lockout while scab workers inside regulatory framework and funnel money of big labor, has had similar issues with took the demonstration outside. laughed and made obscene gestures to from marijuana sales into state programs. canvassers. During a 2012 campaign in As promised, UCW and supporters those rallying in the front. This is a campaign that has large support support of Democrat Ted Obrien’s run for came back together the morning of June This was an unfortunate turn since amongst the institutional left in the state— New York State Senate, many canvassers 16 with a surprise in tow. They brought at the end of that day the new hires were a campaign that the workers say they are raised accusations of missed paychecks. together a large community contingent told that the campaign was ending and adamantly in support of and would like to With double and triple shifts coming up to escort them as they tried to return to that they no longer had a job. Due to see succeed. The crew repeatedly asked to closer to election time, a group within work. Management at CRRH found this many internal funding and management go back to work, and noted that their crew the canvassers arranged a march on the out and decided to move all meetings to a issues, the campaign was closing its doors alone pulls in over 600 signatures a day. boss demanding back pay and a bonus park several blocks away, so the group of and the entire canvassing workforce was That would mean that as of that moment, for working on Election Day. Though the supporters and unionists shifted locations being laid off. the CRRH had lost an estimated 3,000 financial backing and goals may be differ- and marched on the management that was For the United Campaign Workers, signatures due to the strike. Though this ent, it shares the foundational issues with present. They were publicly orienting new this is just the beginning of what will campaign has had large nonprofit and the canvassers from CRRH. In the case of hires that were there to replace the striking become a much longer fight. The workers union support, active labor organizations CRRH, management hired scabs, many of workers, but after seeing the protesters are now organizing new canvassers on came out to support the workers. The lo- whom were completely confounded by the coming they sent the scabs scattering. different campaigns, building numbers, cal Jobs With Justice chapter presented action, as those who were newly hired were UCW workers confronted the manager and making their fighting union ready for the campaign with a community petition not aware they were replacing striking who was there, attempting to give him a the next campaign workplace struggle to of supporters demanding that the CRRH workers. The “replacement workers” were letter that stated their intention to return come. Work People’s College Europe: A Huge Success Continued from 1 the night, and socialized. The next three connections, and other information, and and disruptive fellow worker to leave the partake, help out, and enjoy the event. days began at 9 a.m. with breakfast and these meeting bodies decided on some meeting; he complied and the plenum For four days and three nights between a general plenum (which discussed the non-binding general policies and ideas went on without a hitch. Besides that 50 and 60 fellow workers and comrades general set-up for the day and organizing that fellow workers and branches can in- situation, which WPC-Europe attendees lived at the Kinderwald Tegeler Forst issues) and included several breaks be- stitute to progress their growth, struggles, talked about and worked out later, people campsite. We ate together, shared cook- tween workshops throughout the day, an and organization throughout Europe. got along, laughed, socialized, and made ing and clean-up duties, maintained our extended lunch The last plenum, lasting connections and bonds. I neither living quarters, worked together, and self- break, and dinner “Next Steps of the witnessed nor heard about any serious organized the day-to-day functioning of at the end of each IWW in Europe,” disagreements or situations, and, as far our little IWW commune. The entire event day’s workshops. was important be- as I know, no one left hurt (physically, was simply wonderful and will forever be On Friday fellow cause attendees mentally or emotionally). remembered as a catalyst in building the workers facili- decided on practi- All in all, WPC-Europe in Berlin was IWW in Europe. tated nine work- cal things fellow amazing. I attended representing my The campsite was simple yet well- shops and one workers set out branch (the Indiana General Membership equipped for our gathering. The site in- plenum entitled to accomplish or Branch) just to take part, learn some new cluded three houses—the Big Bill house, “Patriarchy in the work toward. It things, and build connections with other the Joe Hill house, and the Emma Gold- Union,” led by fel- included discus- fellow workers from different branches man house (for women and trans fellow low workers from sion of the event, across the union. I think as the first big workers only)—sectioned off into rooms Portland which WPC-Europe workshop. Photo: Michael White some construc- IWW gathering outside of the United with bunk beds, bathrooms, showers, enlightened and tive criticism, and States or Canada in a long time, a bet- small/basic kitchens and meeting areas. empowered everyone in attendance. suggested improvements, as well as dis- ter one could not have been organized. A large tent sat in between two of the Friday ended with socializing, food and cussion on the next WPC-Europe. This From being there, I really think this will houses where we ate, hosted plenums, a screening of the film “Matewan” by a was followed by real, concrete discussions make the IWW European branches and and enjoyed live music. The site included large group of fellow workers. Saturday about building European solidarity, soli- Regional Organizing Committees closer; plenty of areas for fellow workers to walk consisted of 12 workshops throughout the darity between GLAMROC branches, and I think people will work together to sup- around, sit, and converse. Though the day and one plenum titled “Cooperation building educational programs within the port each other more now; and I think weather for the event could have been a with Syndicalists throughout Europe” in European IWW groups. The plenum ended all of the branches who participated will little more cooperative—it ended up rain- the evening. On Saturday night The Over- with several fellow workers taking on tasks enjoy growth and publicity from this. ing Thursday and most of Friday, but Sat- all Brigade performed in the tent while of connecting everyone, writing articles, Situations throughout the union differ urday and Sunday were warm and sunny fellow workers danced, socialized, and putting together information, and starting because of the scope of our union. Fellow for the most part. enjoyed each other’s company. At the end to talk about future gatherings and events. workers from the United States often for- The entire event was very well- of the night we lit a huge bonfire and sang I do have to say, there were things that get that an entire world exists outside of planned. For months in advance, the or- many renditions of “Solidarity Forever” the organizers didn’t think about or things North America; rarely do we know much ganizers from GLAMROC worked together and other union songs. Sunday, the final that didn’t turn out perfectly, but nothing about branches and struggles in Europe and coordinated plans. The organizers day, was sobering, as we all knew we would went totally wrong. The food came out on or elsewhere. Events like this tie members put together “survival kits” (guide books) have to say goodbye soon. Fellow work- time and was served well; we never ran out in the union closer together—people see for the basic need-to-know details about ers from Hong Kong facilitated one last of anything, people were accommodated that they are not the only ones pushing WPC-Europe. These included directions, extended presentation, and we concluded to the fullest ability of the organizers, all for a certain goal, people learn that others contact information, a “safe space” policy, WPC-Europe with one final grand plenum fellow workers helped in all instances of are struggling in their industry too, and agreements for the space, and tips for titled “Next Steps of the IWW in Europe.” cooking and cleaning, and unlike some people hear and relate individual stories things to bring/do there to increase your Then the clean-up began. Surprisingly, events in North America, attendees did that connect their struggles. Events like enjoyment of the event. The “survival kit” we cleaned up the entire camp in about not divide work based on gender identity this help grow the international structure also included maps of the forest, the outly- two hours. People trickled out, and by the or burden one group of people more than of our union and movement, expand our ing area, and nearby streets. The kit listed end a group of only four or five people re- others—everyone did their fair share and struggles, and make us one step closer to each day’s activities, planned workshops mained. The organizers gave each other a no one seemed burdened with too many truly combating globalized capital. The and presentations, and information on huge, exhausted, collapsing hug of relief, tasks or with continuously doing the same greatest practical lesson I learned at WPC- after-hours fun and entertainment. Orga- and then we left together, closing the gate tasks. Accommodations requested by Europe (one which I’m sure we all feel is nizers maintained the schedule quite well and walking down the path out of the park. fellow workers were considered, looked already instilled in us as Wobblies, but we and almost every scheduled workshop or By the end of WPC-Europe, fellow after, and made a high priority. From my don’t realize until we attend an event like presentation happened. workers connected, hashed out ideas, perspective, only one instance of a real this)—if we connect and work together we On Thursday, the day people began to and came to some very clear next steps. and serious patriarchal outbreak occurred can surely win our struggles: if we continue arrive, attendees registered, found their The many plenums produced great re- (during the “Patriarchy in the Union” to work apart we will surely just continue bunk beds, helped set up, cooked food for sults—people shared ideas, experiences, plenum). Attendees had to ask the unruly to struggle. Page 8 • Industrial Worker • September 2014 Reviews Beyond The Shop Floor: Case Studies Of Worker Self-Organization Immanuel Ness, ed. New Forms of Worker Like my friends campaign in Minne- brief, Exxon built a giant coal mine in the Organization: The Syndicalist and Au- and I, it seems that sota, these writers 1980s that displaced indigenous commu- tonomist Restoration of Class Struggle most who complain provide detailed ac- nities, mostly small farmers and livestock Unionism. Oakland, CA: PM Press, 2014. about the current counts of struggle by herders. The National Union of Workers in Paperback, 320 pages, $24.95. Fight for Fifteen workers to build pow- the Coal Industry (Sintracarbón) learned campaign are acting erful, democratic and about the mine’s poisoning of water and By Steve Thornton like (as we used to independent move- land from a WFP fact-finding delega- I was discussing the recent wave of say) armchair revo- ments. tion. The union asked WFP to bring all fast-food worker strikes with two friends. lutionaries. That’s We learn, for ex- the parties together and the result was a We had all witnessed the walkouts and why “New Forms of ample, from Steven negotiating demand by the mine workers joined the picket lines sparked by the one- Worker Organization: Manicastri about the that would require the coal company (now day actions. Each of us came away with The Syndicalist and history of Italian op- an international consortium) to recognize, different takes on the viability of this cam- Autonomist Restora- eraismo, also known negotiate with, and compensate the affect- paign. I said it reminded me of the Justice tion of Class Struggle as autonomous Marx- ed communities. In 2006 Chomsky and for Janitors movement in the 1980s: a lot Unionism” is such a ism, based on “the others formed an international solidarity of flash, powerful, courageous actions by valuable addition to Graphic: workerorganization.org thinking and practice group to support that process. She lets the the mostly immigrant workers—actions the debate. Published this year by PM of politics” in the workplace. Independent parties speak for themselves in a series that weren’t exactly strikes—and a strategy Press and edited by Immanuel Ness, “New operaist groups organized strikes and of reprinted letters from Sintracarbón. focused on the big money that hired the Forms” provides a worldwide perspective slow-downs in the 1960s, initially to force It is clear that the union’s commitment cleaning companies. on bottom-up organizing efforts from the their official unions to act on workplace to the indigenous people grew deeper as One friend had been reading recent past and present. safety or wage issues. Such decentralized the negotiations progressed. In the end, critiques of the fast food organizing efforts. Ness argues that it won’t work to activity spilled into the community, where in the face of a possible strike, the union He dismissed the “paid staff” and “bureau- “reinvigorate” conventional unions or to mass squatting, rent strikes, and refusal won a small victory by forcing the boss to cratic, big, centralized unions” that have reach “density” in particular industries. I to pay the full price of utility bills became discuss the community issue and agreeing run the project. My other friend replied: was fortunate to hear him speak recently the practice of thousands. Operaismo has to participate in “social programs” offered “Paid staff? Centralized? You could be at “How Class Works,” a biennial confer- since evolved into the creation of Con- by the company. Today Sintracarbόn con- talking about Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and ence held at Stony Brook University and federazione dei Comitati di Base (COBAS, tinues to fight alongside the community, the early IWW!” That’s about how far the sponsored by the school’s Center for Study or base committees)—independent worker most recently against the diversion of a conversation got. of Working Class Life. At his workshop, groups that may include migrant workers, major river. In fact, Gurley Flynn was a paid orga- Ness posed the question that is at the students, retirees and the unemployed. A book on horizontal organizing would nizer and the IWW did change its structure core of this book: Can we create solidarity They have resisted education cuts, auster- not be complete without Staughton Lynd. in the face of criticism over top-down con- unions within (or in spite of) current labor ity and the power of banks. In a sense they In his brief introduction, Lynd tells us of a trol. It wasn’t until 1915 and the creation organizations? are the “dual unions” that the American dream he had 50 years ago. In this dream of the Agricultural Workers Organization “New Forms of Worker Organization” Left has alternately loved and hated. De- he and his wife Alice are helping neigh- (AWO) in Kansas City that the IWW really is a book of essays divided geographi- scribed as the “Zen Buddhists of politics,” bors put out a forest fire. He describes the built its power among farm workers in the cally between Europe and Asia, the Global COBAS have been operating without of- frantic work to douse the blaze, “incessant western part of the country. The AWO also South and the Global North. With contri- ficial leaders or formal rules of discipline activity” as he calls it. “Then something fostered the system of “roving delegates” butions from 16 writers, Ness describes for over 20 years. else had taken over,” Lynd writes. “Slowly who could sign up workers on the spot the struggles of autonomous workers’ How did Exxon and Witness for Peace it came to me. It had begun to rain.” What and collect dues, another change from organizations and their efforts to take (WFP) facilitate revolutionary unionism in is more effective than the toil of small the old practice of centering everything hold. From worker-peasant coalitions in Colombia? Now there’s a story, and Aviva efforts? A storm that brings a new world in Chicago. Madagascar to the IWW Jimmy John’s Chomsky explains it all in this book. In from the ashes of the old. The S.O.B.’s Of Wichita: The Koch Brothers Schulman, Daniel. Sons of Wichita: How regions of the former Soviet drums, wrote the chants, film by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, high- the Koch Brothers Became America’s Union, a contribution he hired the drummers, and lights their influence, as well as the Most Powerful and Private Dynasty. New lived to regret. The story brought it all into the public limits of individuals acting in opposition York: Grand Central Publishing, 2014. quickly moves into strange arena for consumption by to these moneyed interests. On July 14, Hardcover, 432 pages, $30.00. terrain—taking on the deep the citizenry. Today, the the New York Times lead editorial de- paranoia that pervades the Koch brothers are anony- nounced the “ruinous tax cuts imposed By Jane LaTour TV series, “The Americans.” mous no more. Thanks to a in Kansas.” There, Governor Sam Brown- Growing up in the 1950s, children Everything in Fred Koch’s brilliant bit of street theater back, one of the Koch brothers’ acolytes, made scrapbooks as school assignments world is colored with the by Greenpeace, the brothers has imposed “spectacularly ill-advised about elections and the democratic pro- fear of the Soviet Union as were exposed for the first— tax cuts in 2012 and 2013…which largely cess of voting—the process of citizens a bogeyman hidden behind and certainly not the last— benefited the wealthy, [and] cost the state going to the polls to cast a secret ballot. every fence post. Thus, time. Even as their tentacles 8 percent of the revenue it needs for Back when “I Like Ike” buttons were all Fred is present at the first sink ever deeper into the schools and other government services… the rage, the electoral process seemed meeting of the John Birch fabric of our republic, they Moody’s cut the state’s debt rating in almost sacred—streamlined, straight Society and takes on the seek to re-cast their image. April for the first time in at least 13 years, forward, and open to possibilities—a role of its Mr. Big, an archi- Witness the TV ads “We are citing the cuts and a lack of confidence in choice determined by citizens taking part tect of its development and Graphic: ga-ga.com Koch,” which laud their role the state’s fiscal management.” in their civic duty. playbook. This is the worldview he shared as job creators, and David Koch endowing While over in Wisconsin, Governor Things have changed considerably with his offspring; the vision they imbibed, his billions on the arts, medical facilities, Scott Walker is one of the more infamous since that time. One significant source the atmosphere they breathed. This, along and, most recently, the United Negro manifestations of the Koch brothers of the change that is perverting the with a fiercely competitive ethos, laid the College Fund (UNCF). To its credit, the and their brand of politics. A recorded democratic process is the Citizens United groundwork for the subsequent develop- American Federation of State, County, and conversation between the governor and decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, ments amongst his four sons. Municipal Employees (AFSCME) pulled a prank caller posing as David Koch which opened the floodgates to unlim- Based on copious archival research, its partnership from the UNCF after it ac- revealed their attack strategy on public ited, unregulated campaign spending by interviews, secondary sources, and the cepted a gift of $25 million from David and sector unions, among other targets. corporations and wealthy individuals. reporting skills of a veteran journalist, Charles. Not only did the UNCF take the What can we learn from all of this? But the seeds of our current impasse, The Schulman weaves them all together to money, Dr. Michael Lomax, the president The message is clear as a bell. We gain an Great Divide (of income inequality) that chronicle the lives and times of his sub- of the UNCF, spoke at the Koch brothers’ understanding of how conservatives—a pervades the country, were sowed long jects. The prose is accessible and filled annual summit, along with Charles Mur- fringe minority back when Arizona Sena- ago. Daniel Schulman’s book, “Sons of with eminently delectable quotes. It’s an ray, author of “The Bell Curve.” tor Barry Goldwater was the standard- Wichita: How the Koch Brothers Became introduction to an Alice-through-the- AFSCME President Lee Saunders, in a bearer for the Republican Party—became America’s Most Powerful and Private looking-glass/upside-down universe; letter to Dr. Lomax, described Murray as a movement, building a strong base for Dynasty,” lays out the long journey of except that instead of falling down a rabbit a scholar who has “dedicated himself to their vision of a union-free, tax-free, these Kansas-bred brothers to their cur- hole, we are inside the wonderful worlds promoting the notion that the over-rep- regulation-free America. The think tanks, rent perch atop both the second largest of billionaires. Schulman delivers a fair resentation of African-Americans among publications, annual convocations, fund- privately-held company—Koch Indus- and balanced account, letting the facts America’s poor and in American prisons ing of academics, and their research, tries, Inc.—and the crackpot, ultra-far- speak for themselves, which makes this is the consequence not of our history or along with the right to approve their right conservative movement. account all the more powerful, damning, of the types of policies the Koch brothers hiring, and so much more, are at the root Schulman’s book starts off dramati- and credible. promote, but rather is a consequence of of their success. cally, like a movie. The author vividly For decades, Charles and David (the genetic inferiority.” Saunders noted that It is up to all of us to educate our- paints a picture of the family: four sons of Koch Brothers at the helm of their family these actions are “a profound betrayal of selves—read the book and watch the a powerful dynamo—a self-made man of business) shrouded themselves in ano- the ideals of the civil rights movement.” movie—and then, don’t mourn, organize! engineering and entrepreneurial talents, nymity, which changed as their creations, The helmeted/welding African-American The right is certainly organizing. It has with his fortune deriving from a process including the Tea Party (an outgrowth of woman and the diapered baby in the Koch been for decades. But it is important to called “cracking”—an essential part of their conservative, “libertarian” philoso- Industries TV ad can’t erase the nefari- remember these words: “If the workers delivering petroleum to the market. This phy) took on greater resonance. In time, ous anti-union, anti-tax, anti-regulation, took a notion, they could stop all speed- man, Fred, the father of the four brothers, their role became widely known. For de- climate-change-denial role that the Koch ing trains.” Or, in more contemporary lent his engineering skills to help develop cades, they and their acolytes have been brothers are playing in the body politic. terms: “We are the 99 percent.” Yes. “We the petroleum resources in the remote behind a toxic drumbeat. They bought the “Citizen Koch,” a new documentary are many, they are few.” September 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 9 Reviews Novella Tells A Story Of Alienation In A Tough Economy McDonough, Nate and Jarrod Shana- taken its toll. ers or what they want. We existence: our very dreams. han. It’s A Tough Economy. Pittsburgh, So when the phone do know, however, that The politics of the text vary from PA: Grixly Press, 2014. Paperback, 90 rings in the middle of the Jarrod is caught in the the overt to the opaque. At one point pages, $9.99. night—at least we’re led to middle with both sides during his job interview Jarrod is told, believe it’s the middle of viewing him as little more “Ownership is such a shallow concept By Jerome Baxter the night, time is a char- than a pawn in a struggle compared to the love we have for our Rule number one when writing book acter in its own right in in which neither Jarrod work,” to which he responds, “But who reviews is never to compare the book this tale—Jarrod jumps at nor the reader is ever al- collects the profits?” At another point we you’re reviewing to two old classics. No the chance to secure some lowed to fully grasp. are presented with the image of a mania- one really believes it when you say a new gainful employment. The book is not with- cal boss shouting encouragement from book is a combination of a “Pride and And so begins his out its dark humor. In- the back of his limousine as his driver Prejudice” and “Das Kapital.” Well, today descent into a surreal- deed, moments of it verge mows down our homeless fellow work- I’m disregarding that advice. ist nightmare where the on the slapstick. However, ers. An allegory for our very own tough Jarrod Shanahan and Nate Mc- reader is never really sure the dark undercurrent, economy? I think so. Donough’s novella, “It’s a Tough Econ- what’s real and what’s the psychological-made- Are there faults to be found in “It’s omy!” is part auto-biography, part gritty imagined—where the surreal, is never far be- a Tough Economy?” It can feel a bit dis- surrealism—imagine Franz Kafka writing waking nightmare begins hind. jointed and the description can be a bit “Down and Out in Paris and London.” and daytime drudgery in- “It’s a Tough Econ- flowery at times. But as a piece of writ- As the story opens up, we meet the vades the sleeping psyche. Graphic: cominsitu.wordpress.com omy” is an entertaining ing—creating mood and affect and doing protagonist, Jarrod, who’s currently out Along the way we read, no doubt, but its so in a way that provides a literary take of work and living in squalor in a small, meet a seemingly never-ending cast of beauty lies in the fact that Jarrod’s sordid on our position in the labor market—it dank Brooklyn apartment. He’s a man psychopaths. There’s a supervisor with a tale mirrors the way many of us experience certainly deserves kudos as a commend- whose resume “has evolved from a fac- questionable grip on reality, the homicidal the job market: a lone individual against able contribution towards what working- tual representation of [his]employment boss, and a group of “renegade workers” faceless, unforgiving forces outside our class literature could and should aspire. history to a visionary piece of science trying to bring down the company which control. The work we do controls us not “It’s a Tough Economy” was pub- fiction.” And the stress of no work, in- has offered Jarrod employment. We never only when we’re on the clock but seeps lished by Grixly Press, the illustrator’s adequate food, and tortured sleep has discover what has aggrieved these work- into that most private sphere of human DIY imprint. A Constructively Sweeping Blow Philippe Kellermann, ed. Anarchismus, Kellerman is re- In a tenacious, al- erable conflicts with the State apparatus, Marxismus, Emanzipation. Gespräche freshingly eager to ar- most penetrant man- the parties, and the existing organisations über die Geschichte und Gegenwart der gue and open, but not ner, Kellermann uses of civil society,” writes Hirsch. sozialistischen Bewegungen. Berlin: Die at all in an aggressive or the non-consideration This contemporary pressure for change Buchmacherei, 2012. € 10,00, 166 pages. self-opinionated man- of anarchist thought does indeed concern anarchist ideas too; ner. That’s the way, in Left discourse as for example the historical “paradigm of By Andreas Förster Bini Adamczak, Jochen an opportunity to sin- productivism,” or the contemporary “legal Philippe Kellermann’s conversation Gester, Gerhard Han- cerely enlarge this very nihilism.” The overcoming of capitalism, volume on Marxism and anarchism gives loser, Joachim Hirsch tradition of thought as Gester among others, states, requires a insights into today’s left-think workshops and Hendrik Wallat— and to put it on the movement “that not only ignores or merely and in the dungeon of history. all having a university same level as Marxist fights the State, but that comprehends it Everybody’s getting their comeup- education—give them- thought. This is abso- as a political space.” pance: the Marxists, with the point made selves in the conver- lutely fruitful. In that This booklet offers a weighty, but not by constitutional theorist Joachim Hirsch sations with Philippe way, the conversations all too heavy reading—although in some “that it is impossible to fundamentally Kellermann. The lat- continuously revolve places less academic jargon would have change the social relations by means of the ter’s declared aim is around the contem- been appreciable. State.” The anarchists, to which political to locate and develop porary interaction of Even if the confrontation of Marxism scientist Hendrik Wallat attests a “critique contemporary thought theory and reality. This and anarchism might appear old hat to of the State and of power insufficient in and action with regard is most important with some people, these conversations possibly multiple respects.” The radical Left, which to the past. regard to a widespread contribute to eventually overcoming the trade unionist Jochen Gester admonishes: The chosen form, “fetish of the revolu- radical Left’s “identity building along his- “The utility of theories is proportionate not that of a game of Graphic: ecx.images-amazon.com tion,” that is to say the torical breaking lines,” as Ralf Hoffrogge to whether they do foster this process [of question and answer, but of a conversa- “turning of revolution from a means…into put it in a public debate in November 2011. social change by collective action] or they tion, is just so. In particular, it gives all an end in itself,” writes Adamczak. For in In the end, one thing is clear: “Un- do not.” And even the editor himself: Bini people involved the opportunity to sweep- the end, here all involved agree, it’s about fortunately it is impossible to ever again Adamczak attests to his publications an ingly deploy the most different cross- to “change the social balances of power… dream that innocently of a better world unbalanced “gender ratio.” references. (that is) a process accompanied by consid- as in the 19th century,” writes Adamczak. Wobbly Arts I’ve Been Workin’ On The Railroad By FW JP, Kentucky GMB, Railroad Workers United Wobbly Graphics I’ve been workin’ on the railroad All the live long day! I’ve been workin on the railroad… And I don’t want to work alone! Can’t you hear railroaders shoutin’ One man trains ain’t safe! If they sign on the dotted line, there’ll be derailments all over the place!

5,3,2 then 1 5,3,2 then 1 2-1 don’t sound SMART to me.. Vote no, and let’s make history!

I’ve been workin on the railroad.. All the live long day. I’ve been workin on the railroad. And I don’t want to work alone. Can’t you see the writing on the wall, Don’t be tricked with cash! The minute you sign on the dotted line, They’re gonna re-write the agreement fast!

I’m tellin ya it’s a trap! I’m tellin ya it’s a trap! Have they ever kept they’re word before? I’m tellin ya it’s a trap, I’m tellin’ ya it’s a trap Graphic: Ryan Kowalchik Graphic: Gadflye Don’t kick the conductor out the door! Page 10 • Industrial Worker • September 2014 September 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Wobbly History John Reed’s First Labor Love: The IWW By Raymond S. Solomon This was what is known as the October sisted the desire of Gregory Zino- Towards the beginning of the film Revolution—on the pre-revolutionary viev for the Wobblies to join the “Reds,” John Reed (1887 to 1920), played calendar—Nov. 6 and 7, 1917, on the Gre- American Federation of Labor by Warren Beatty, is asked at a meeting of gorian calendar. (as opposed to their separate The Liberal Club in Portland, Ore. what According to Reed, on Nov. 8, Lenin existence as a genuine revolu- the war in Europe (World War I, then decided to put into effect “the new social- tionary movement) at the First known as “The Great War”) is about. Reed ist order.” First, Lenin called for a three- Congress of the Communist In- answered, “Profits.” As a journalist, he had month ceasefire in the bloody World War ternational (Comintern). In the just returned from covering that war. I. Lenin appealed to the governments and movie “Reds,” Reed talked about “Reds,” as a movie, is as close to the the people, though mainly to the govern- the 101 Wobbly leaders who were facts as a non-documentary movie can be— ments since an appeal just to the peoples of imprisoned in America. considering the movie conventions of hints the combatant nations would have delayed Regarding the above, Rosen- of the ending, metaphors, dramatization the ceasefire. Then, Lenin declared all land stone, the author of “Romantic and sub-plots. Reed had been covering the ownerless, asking the Soviets, already in Revolutionary,” wrote: mass slaughter in Europe. In articles in- existence, to take possession of the land “The battle began early and cluded in the book “The Education of John that they had not already collectivized. lasted all through the Congress. Reed,” he reports piles of bodies, priests Then, Leo Kaminev issued a strong attack Prior to the first working session dropping dead (from the diseases which on criminal disorder and anti-Semitism, Jack had gathered support not Photo: areadingnook.com are a concomitant of war) when bending and any anti-Semitic violence. The very only from other Americans—the John Reed. over to give last rites to dying soldiers, an honor of the revolution demanded that his two CP [Communist Party] delegates and Reed took the opportunity of his re- Armenian man reporting that the Turks declaration against criminal disorder and two fellow CLP [Communist Labor Party] porting on the IWW trial to write that the murdered his entire family, and the severe anti-Semitism be followed. He demanded representatives—but also from some Eng- IWW centers in the western United States persecution of Jews in Czarist Russia. “immediate energetic action” against any lish industrial unionists, IWW adherents were intellectual centers where books were Other articles in “The Education of anti-Semitic actions. and various continental Syndicalists.” read in the IWW center libraries, where John Reed” include his coverage of the In “Ten Days That Shook the World,” In “Reds,” Reed, in complaining to world events were discussed, and where IWW-led Paterson Silk Strike of 1913. He we learn such facts, as Lenin originally Emma Goldman (who had been deported plays were performed. He also took the op- was also a participant in the strike activi- wanted Leon Trotsky to be the leader of to Soviet Russia in 1919, and who became portunity to say that the IWW was his first ties. Reed helped to organize a New York the new revolutionary Russia. Reed went disenchanted with the Bolsheviks, about love among the labor unions in America. City pageant supporting that strike, which into the background of Russian radicalism whom she was originally enthusiastic) The IWW had, and has, a cross section included actual strikers. and why the Russian radical masses were about Zinoviev, says that he can’t deal of the ethnic, occupational, and regional In “Romantic Revolutionary: A Biog- not fighting for a bourgeois democracy, with a “bureaucrat,” to which Goldman, groups making up America—western raphy of John Reed,” author Robert A. but for a workers’ revolutionary society. played by Maureen Stapleton, replies, miners, western agricultural workers, Rosenstone tells us that Reed spent four They were not suffering for a parliamen- “You think Zinoviev’s nothing worse than Minnesota farm workers, Louisiana log- days in jail during the Paterson strike. It tary democracy, although they would have a bureaucrat?” ging workers, Chinese, Japanese, African was there that he met Carlo Tresca, an preferred that to Czarist rule. Reed wrote She went on to explain that anyone Americans, Mexicans, Native Americans, IWW, anarchist leader. This Italian immi- about the history of the radical movements could be taken out and shot as a counter- Jews, Italians, Irish, WASPS, Finns, grant was originally stand-offish towards in Russia and pointed out that there was a revolutionary on mere suspicion. She Swedes, and others. There was equality Reed. Reed did not fit the “profile” of a big co-op movement in Russia. complained about things not working. between women and men. The IWW had striker. But they became friendly when Reed reported on the heroic defense of An argument ensued. Reed said that the far more members and supporters than Tresca realized that Reed was a friend the new Bolshevik revolution against the problems in Russia are the fault of the you would know from standard history. and not a company fink or government in- re-grouped forces of Alexander Kerensky American-British-French blockade, and One of the unusual features of “Reds” former. Reed was quite taken with Tresca (who had been head of the provisional gov- the common people running things before is that many people who were around and other workers with whom he was in ernment) and on the mass funeral for the they are ready to. He asserted the need to at that time, and who were witnesses to jail for those four days. many who died defending that revolution defend the revolution by a war, including the events of the days, were witnesses in There was an enthusiasm among the during the 10 days that shook the world. firing squads, to fight the foreign interven- the movie. This gives the movie a semi- people surrounding Vladimir Lenin as In viewing the mass funeral of those who tionists and the White Armies. documentary character. The witnesses if he were on the verge of remaking the died defending the revolution against Reed’s defense of the IWW in Soviet included: world. This is what I could feel when I regrouped forces, Reed said, “I suddenly Russia did not lead him to be disillusioned Henry Miller—author; Hamilton read this book. It was like reading about realized that the devout Russian people with the Bolsheviks. But, in both So- Fish—member of U.S. Congress who wrote the sensations that George Orwell had in no longer needed priests to pray them viet Russia and America, he defended the the law authorizing a monument and grave Loyalist Spain in 1936. Reed’s “Ten Days into heaven. On earth they were building Wobblies. for the unknown soldier who was a strong That Shook the World,” in this sense, is a kingdom more bright than any heaven Reed was an IWW loyalist. In addition isolationist before the United States was like Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia.” had to offer, and for which it would be a to his experience in Paterson, N.J., Reed attacked at Pearl Harbor; Bertram Wolfe— “Ten Days That Shook the World” glory to die.” had, in fact, covered parts of the trial that historian, author of “Three Who Made a is and was a classic, especially among After John Reed’s return to the United resulted in the imprisonment of the 101 Revolution;” Rebecca West—author who radicals. Written in the early years of the States, he again went to revolutionary IWW leaders, which he referred to in the wrote an introduction to Emma Gold- Russian Revolution, it was read by and Russia in order to get support for his fac- Comintern Congress. A report of his about man’s “My Disillusionment in Russia;” greatly impressed Emma Goldman, Alex- tion of the new communist movement in that trial (before the Bolshevik Revolu- Roger Baldwin—one of the main founders ander Berkman, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, the United States—the Communist Labor tion), titled “The I.W.W. in Court,” is of the American Civil Liberties Union and and Lenin himself. In fact, Lenin wrote an Party as opposed to the Communist Party. reprinted in “The Education of John Reed: accepted as an IWW member; Scott Near- introduction to a subsequent printing of This is shown in “Reds.” Selected Writings.” The Wobblies were ing—naturalist, author, and communist “Ten Days That Shook the World.” Reed John Reed defended the new Bolshe- tried under the Espionage Act, which was who lived to 100 years of age. describes the labyrinth of political parties vik government in almost all areas, except passed during the United States participa- Who are John Reed’s heirs? The com- in Russia after the February 1917 Revolu- for their disregard for the Industrial Work- tion in World War I. The irony is that the munists claim him. Over the years they tion (March Revolution on the old calen- ers of the World. In “Reds” and confirmed IWW was not especially anti-war. Some have established John Reed Clubs and dar). Reed records the planning for the in “Romantic Revolutionary: A Biography Wobblies served in that war. So, I don’t John Reed Schools. The best evidence Bolshevik takeover, the takeover, and the of John Reed,” we see that he, and other think their prosecution had to do with for this argument is that John Reed de- first declaration of the new government. Americans and Englishmen, greatly re- national security but with suppression fended the Bolshevik dispersion of the of radicalism in America. The IWW was Constituent Assembly, established by growing. The Socialist Party was grow- popular elections in early 1918, where the Sponsor an Industrial Worker ing. The Socialist Party had been winning Socialist Revolutionaries had won a clear elections for mayors and other positions. majority. According to Bertram Wolf it was Subscription for a Prisoner Howard Zinn made the point that there an anarchist Kronstadt sailor who gave Sponsor an Industrial Worker was a growing socialist movement, not just the order to disperse. Reed was planning subscription for a prisoner! The among German, Russian, Polish, Jewish, to write a book defending the dispersion and Italian immigrants, but also in Texas, of the Constituent Assembly and other IWW often has fellow workers Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama. controversial things the Bolsheviks had & allies in prison who write to In describing his reaction to the trial done but he died before he could do that. us requesting a subscription of the 101 Wobblies, Reed wrote: However, since Reed reported the to the Industrial Worker, the “One Big Union—that is their crime. important role that Leon Trotsky played That is why the I.W.W. is on trial. If there in the Bolshevik Revolution, Trotskyites official newspaper of the IWW. was a way to kill these men, capitalist also claim him. In fact, communists claim This is your chance to show society would cheerfully do it; as it killed that Reed was mistaken in his facts, report- solidarity! Frank Little, for example—and before him ing on the major role of Trotsky and that Joe Hill.” Trotsky did not play the role Reed recalled. For only $18 you can buy one This is in contrast to his opinion of the But there is no question about John men who were standing trial: Reed’s love of the IWW and its members— full year’s worth of working- “The humility of the workers is beauti- his “first love” in the American labor move- class news from around the ful, the patience of the workers is almost ment. I suggest reading the above cited world for a fellow worker in infinite, and their gentleness miraculous. books and seeing the movie “Reds.” This prison. Just visit: They still believe in constitutions and article tells a little. Please buy the books phases of governments—yet in spite of mentioned and see the movie. http://store.iww.org/industrial- their preamble, the I.W.W. still have faith I thank my fellow worker wife, Judy worker-sub-prisoner.html to in the goodness of mankind, and the pos- Solomon, for her editorial skills applied order the subscription TODAY! sibility of justice for the righteous.” to this article. Page 12 • Industrial Worker • September 2014 The IWW Supports BIOME Workers In Greece Workers at Viomichan- declare our support for the iki Metaleftiki (BIOME), a workers of BIOME. Their building materials factory militant struggle and their in Thessaloniki, Greece, effort to continue produc- are fighting a recent court tion under workers’ control action that is attempting to have prevented employer expel them and return their firings and have opened worker-run factory back to the way to put resources its former employer-bosses and life into the hands of IWW International Solidarity On The Rise who had vanished two-and- our class. By Florian H., William B., J. Pierce excited about this opportunity. The CNT a-half years ago. The employer’s de- and Anders M. has much to teach us and, if everything The former employers mands will not stand! You Lately the IWW International Soli- goes as planned, their representative, were given a total of 126 will find us beside the BI- darity Commission (ISC) has been on the Ellison, will be at the 2014 IWW General months of imprisonment OME workers every step of move—making contacts, collecting stories, Convention to meet Wobblies in person. for debts to workers. Now, the way. All of us together, and building relationships. IWW members in Turkey have been in however, in collaboration Graphic: ISC we will defend the right of In between trips to the Deep South, contact with the ISC as the struggles have with the appointed trustee, workers to live with dignity. Fellow Worker (FW) Florian aggregated been heating up in their region. FWs Ayca they are asking that BIOME be given a The Greek section of the Industrial a massive volume of world labor news for and Yusuf are following the fights in the bankruptcy status to avoid paying what Workers of the World supports the self- the ISC newsletter and has been sending manufacturing, glass, and coal industries, they owe to the employees. They are also organized workers of ΒΙΟΜΕ Thessaloniki this to our members and contacts. The among others. The neoliberal regime of requesting that the plant be evacuated of in winning their fight! ISC newsletter is a 44-page summary of capital accumulation and its state are be- all workers. Solidarity Forever, the global class struggle touching all con- coming more oppressive and authoritarian This is an outrage to the workers of Industrial Workers of the World, tinents and dozens of countries. ISC high- day-by-day to force workers to work under Greece! Greece lights include our solidarity statements modern slavery. The FWs told the ISC that The Industrial Workers of the World [email protected] with Ukraine’s Autonomous Workers they are building slowly and deliberately in Union and a strike of cleaners in Athens; order to put the One Big Union in Turkey the many ISC working groups we’re trying on a solid industrial basis, rather than try- Precarious Workers Struggle In Poland By Bill B. of the ISC in one factory making hardware for the to build, such as for Latin America and ing to create another “left-wing group that Kryzysztof, Paulina and I met over Apple brand. East Asia; and a small calendar of events has no real plan, no real strategy, no real beers at a local pub in Krakow. Both had Kryzysztof and Paulina and their concerning the IWW and our sister unions. weight.” Let’s keep our eyes on Turkey and attended an IWW meeting in Poznań union have leafleted stores, but no one This past summer, FW Bill and his support them in their campaigns. this year. Kryzysztof works in a win- has responded. Many employees are now wife made their way through Germany, FW Argyris, on behalf of the IWW dow factory, while Paulina works in a “contract employees.” Such employees the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, branch in Greece, has been sending state- supermarket through a temp agency. are not allowed to join unions in Poland. Austria and Poland. In a pub in Krakow, ments to the ISC to help publicize their Kryzysztof said they had established a So at the moment, the feeling among the Poland, Bill sat down with two organizers, fights. The Greek IWW supports the strug- 10-person commission in January, but Polish workforce is that unions don’t Paulina and Kryzysztof, from Workers’ gles by the Viomichaniki Metaleftiki (BI- there were no strong ideas about what to make you more secure. In general, people Initiative (Inicjatywa Pracownicza or OME) workers (see “IWW Supports The do. Only 10 percent of Poland’s workers want capitalism. They want to be like IP). They discussed the development of Struggle Of BIOME Workers In Greece” have remained in labor unions after the western Europe and they want to abolish IP and how we might work together (see on right) and a hunger strike by 4,200 famous Solidarity union collapsed. So the workers’ state. However, sometimes “IWW Meets With Workers’ Initiative In prisoners. Things are urgent and serious they focused on one group of people in a workers don’t get paid, especially subcon- Krakow” on the right). in Greece given the fight against austerity company who seemed to want to change tractors. Wildcat strikes have resulted on FW Pierce has been building support and the growth of the fascist right. We send things, in order to see if people really at least one occasion due to non-payment for re-launching the IWW’s Spanish lan- our solidarity to their efforts. wanted change after all. of wages. The local workers have picketed guage publication, Solidaridad, and has Australian IWW member FW Tristan Temp agency workers seem to be the shopping malls and have engaged in been collecting contacts around Mexico and his partner have kept up their travels norm rather than the exception in Poland. wildcat strikes. who have agreed to write for it. Pierce in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Tristan There are several small food co-ops. Some A day after our meeting in the pub, a visited IWW supporters Macario and Leon reports that he has met with many work- large chains claim to be co-ops, but they worker/organizer was laid off by Aelia, a in Mexicali, Baja California, and discussed ers’ organizations and has made the best aren’t. Some of their workers became conglomerate that owns duty-free shops their campaign to preserve and improve a connection with the Confederación de Tra- stock holders, or capitalists. The word around the world, usually situated in popular lagoon used by several working- bajadores de la Economía Popular (CTEP) “co-op” carries links to “communist” and airports. This comrade, Anna, worked at class communities. Their Asamblea por in Argentina. While in Chile, Tristan met has a negative connotation in the minds Chopin International Airport in Warsaw el rescate Socioambiental y Autonomía with IWW supporters who are friends and of many Polish workers. On a side note, where she had been organizing. The lo- Alimentaria Mexicali (Mexicali Assembly contacts made by FW Romina from Los the homeless in Poland have food, a place cal workers have been picketing, so far for Socio-environmental rescue and Food Angeles. Chilean supporters of the One Big to wash and a place to stay out of the cold. to no avail. Autonomy) is the hub of many environ- Union have confirmed that they intend to The services are provided by both public Our fellow workers in Poland need mental and class-oriented campaigns. It revive the IWW in Chile, given the color- and private entities. This might be eye the support and thoughts of workers was agreed that building a strong connec- ful history there from the 1910s to 1920s. -opening to workers in North America. around the world. Please contact Kry- tion between the Asamblea and the IWW The IWW European Regional Ad- Kryzysztof and Paulina’s union, zysztof Spiewla at [email protected]. could benefit both groups. ministration elected FW Anders as their Workers’ Initiative (Inicjatywa Pracown- FW Brandon of the 2013 ISC has been International Solidarity Officer for 2014. icza or IP), was established in the 1990s Update: The following comes from working with the Confederación Nacional This is a great addition to the ISC’s circle and 2000s in Poznań. There was a big Kryzysztof in Krakow, Poland after this del Trabajo (CNT) in Spain to bring over a and we intend to bring FW Anders into our machinery factory where many workers article was written: representative to make contacts and build work as much as possible. As the capital- were fired. Some anarchists obtained “In July, thanks to actions con- our mutual relationship. Given that the ists are transnational, so must be the IWW. work there and established a union. ducted by Workers’ Initiative, one of the CNT in Spain is one of the largest, most Therefore, the ISC is looking forward to However, strikes are only legal in Poland most influential newspapers in Poland powerful, and most respected anarcho- seeing each regional section add someone after a union is established, negotiations published a feature describing not only syndicalist unions in our time, we are very to a new ISC formation in the near future. with management fail, and the strike is Anna’s firing, but also some of the most voted upon. The other side can render immoral forms of exploitation and abuse the strike illegal by court action. For ex- of workers at Aelia. Afterwards the State Not Quite A Truce: La Poste Concedes ample, Krzysztof Gazda, a union leader at Labor Inspection said it would conduct To Demands, Fires Organizers Chung Kong (a Chinese-owned company an inspection at Aelia, regarding dam- By Monika Vykoukal more than half, and some in Poland that assembles TV sets) was aging workers’ laws. As you may know, Having struck against restructuring measures have fired. After a three-year trial, he won the the Labor Inspection in Poland has very precarious contracts and oth- been prevented. case. After the victory he found himself few instruments to punish unlawful em- er efforts of “restructuring” And in Epinay, after 59 threatened by company thugs to the point ployers (they can charge a fee up to few at France’s postal service, La days of strike in mid-July, where he committed suicide. hundred dollars), so international pres- Poste, since the start of the management agreed not to Some companies in Poland are huge. sure towards Aelia is still much needed.” year, many of the post offices apply their restructuring plan Foxconn, another Chinese-owned com- Kryzysztof Spiewla from Krakow on strike have since gone back in exchange for an agreement pany, employs over one million workers contributed to this piece. to work but are determined to on the part of the strikers to continue to organize and fight Graphic: SUD POSTE 91 transfer to another location. before management for a disciplinary other users and expressing their dissat- back (for background infor- Improvements in working meeting, which voted for his dismissal. If isfaction with the worsening service and mation, see “New Management Versus conditions and pay rises were also won confirmed by the head office, this will be work conditions to management. Old-School Organizing: The Long Strike at several locations, as well as postpone- the first dismissal of a union representa- Coordination beyond La Poste with Against Restructuring And Precarity At ments of restructuring plans by eight to tive in this manner for their activities in workers in other industries, who face simi- La Poste,” July/August 2014 IW, page 11). 12 months. Meanwhile strikes continue at 60 years. While a group of several hundred lar conditions of increasingly precarious In terms of their demands, the strik- multiple locations, and further post office supporters rallied outside the offices, an contracts and an intensification of work, ers won significant concessions: workers locations are going on strike. impressive number of riot police vans and with the movement against benefit at the Rueil-Malmaison location, which Management’s efforts to get rid of surrounded the gathering. cuts, has added a crucial element to this went on strike first, and had the longest the union organizers and those identified Workers at the post office and their struggle against the ongoing destruction strike in the history of La Poste with a as leaders of the strike continue, with union delegates emphasize the importance of workers’ rights and worsening of condi- record 173 days, won the hiring of three over a dozen facing ongoing disciplinary of organizing beyond individual locations tions. Post office workers are currently on co-workers previously on temp contracts. measures. On July 31, one of the union and on a rank-and-file basis. These postal a mission to analyze the struggle so far and At La Garenne-Colombes/Bois-Colombes, officers, Olivier Rosay, the department of workers further emphasize the importance to continue to reach out to workers in other which joined the strike later on, the num- Paris secretary of the union Solidaires Uni- of working with post office users, who had sectors so as to be prepared for further, ber of planned job cuts were reduced by taires Démocratiques (SUD), was called created a solidarity collective informing ongoing activity in the coming months.