Official newspaper oF The Industrial Workers of the World

INDUSTRIALOctober 2014 #1768 Vol. 111 No. 7 $2/ £2/ €2 WORKER

New Survey Of Online Baltimore Jimmy Review: Wobbly Poet Sharing Lessons IWW Sign-Ups: A Wake- John’s Workers File Keeps Tradition Of With Comrades In Up Call 3 ULP Lawsuit 5 Labor Poetry Alive 8 The FAU 12 IWW UPS Workers Organize Against Police Brutality By Screw Ups targets and holds hundreds of contracts ferry these packages to their intended Starting on Friday, Aug. 22, IWW with police departments, federal agencies, trailers. Those who were uncomfort- workers at a United Parcel Service (UPS) and military branches across the United able or unable to directly engage in sorting facility in Minneapolis began orga- States. The company has held at least 10 these actions posed with a sign reading nizing against their labor supporting the contracts with federal agencies in Mis- “#handsupdontship” in order to speak ongoing police violence against the popu- souri, and far more with county and local out. Actions like this took place in vari- lation of Ferguson, Mo., in the aftermath of police departments and other agencies. ous work areas across the building, and the murder of Michael Brown, an unarmed They sell product lines like “Urban Street were taken by people with a variety of 18-year-old black man. In a series of ac- Violence,” featuring photos of stereotypi- job positions. The following Monday, tions aimed at a local company shipping cal “thugs,” and previously were forced to several workers continued the action, questionable shooting-range targets to law withdraw a line of targets called “No setting more targets aside for the second enforcement agencies nationwide, workers More Hesitation,” featuring pictures of consecutive shift. This small group in- stood up to the idea that they should have gun-wielding children, pregnant women, cluded both workers of color and white to support racism, brutality, or murder in mothers, and elderly people, all as if to workers, both IWW members and not. order to make ends meet. This action was say that you should consider everyone you It was agreed that this protest would organized in conjunction with, and under see as a threat to be gunned down. Their be publicized online through the Screw the banner of Screw Ups, a rank-and-file products are shipped through the UPS Ups newsletter. newsletter which has been published by sorting facility in Minneapolis every day. For just over two years, the IWW IWW workers at the facility for the past After discovering what products LET has actively been organizing workers year. shipped, and to whom, a group of UPS committees within the UPS hub in Min- Shortly after the murder of Michael workers decided they would not be si- neapolis. One of the main outgrowths of Brown and the deployment of militarized lent about the connection between their this campaign has been the publication police and national guardsmen to Fergu- work and murders, such as that of Mike of Screw Ups, which is handed out by al- son, IWW workers and in-shop allies be- Brown. Some workers removed targets lies outside the building to workers who gan researching Law Enforcement Targets, from trailers that would deliver them to are on their way to clock in. This news- Inc. (LET), a company based in Blaine, law enforcement agencies, while others letter has consistently raised issues of UPS workers display signs Photos: Screw Ups Minn., which produces shooting range stood in solidarity and decided not to Continued on 6 opposing police brutality. The 2014 IWW General Convention: Learning From Our Mistakes, Moving Forward By Maria Parrotta serious accusations that kept other fellow This year I had an opportunity to join workers from participating. Supporters of fellow workers from all over the IWW for the accused stormed out in a whirlwind the 2014 General Convention. The jovial of obscenities as the convention hall fell Wobblies I knew and loved have been silent except for the scattered slap of hands infected with the frustration, defeat and meeting foreheads. collective burnout that could have been The Chicago split faction ruled that the this year’s unofficial convention theme. primary legislative body of the union did As a delegate representing the mumbling not have the right to decide who could be voice of the Washington, D.C. General present for their session. They proclaimed Membership Branch (GMB), it was my their authority as the chosen Complaint duty to defend the positions we spent five Committee tasked with determining the whole minutes crafting in a meeting that safety of this member’s actions.They barely reached a quorum. I arrived at the claimed that since they had not yet reached convention concerned that our union was a conclusion on this case, the convention falling into a rut, but I left afraid that we should have continued as if no question of are just falling apart. safety was ever raised, and the delegates Our first order of business became traveling from all over the world to serve a battle between members of our dys- this union were just going to have to take functional and slightly intimidating host the risk of sitting next to a dangerous branch and almost everyone else. The del- person, because procedure. egates voted to remove a Chicago branch I am a big supporter of following the Delegates and members at the 2014 IWW General Convention. Photo: D.J. Alperovitz member from the convention due to very Continued on 6

Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage A Labor Day Weekend For The Unseen Laborers PO Box 180195 PAID By Kaia Hodo Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL At around 3 a.m. and additional on Saturday, Aug. 30, a ISSN 0019-8870 mailing offices group of four exhausted ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Wobblies from Arkansas did our best to fall asleep in a Chicago multicul- tural center, all the while being serenaded by jam bands who probably didn’t sleep at all. By about 9 a.m., we had already left for a union hall, where we would spend the rest of our day meeting with other IWW members from Members of IWOC meet in Chicago. Photo: Lenz across the country (Illinois, Minnesota, up to this point, was prisoner organizing. California, Missouri, Alabama and Ohio, to Just to give a brief overview, the 13th be specific). The purpose of the conference, Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a two-day set of meetings of people who passed in 1865, abolished slavery and had mostly only spoken over the phone Continued on 7 Page 2 • Industrial Worker • October 2014 The IW Should Be Encouraging Organizing Read & Contribute To A Dear Editor, from Just Coffee to the New Wobbly Blog! I am so very disap- Sisters’ Camelot strikers Dear IW pointed in the June 2014 who have formed a new readers, IW article, “Worker Co- co-op, the North County I’ve recently operatives: Crashing In Food Alliance. The North launched a new The Same Car,” by Ogier County Wobs sent $300 blog, “Life-Long Letters Welcome! (page 4). It starts off with for solidarity on the first Wobbly,” which Send your letters to: [email protected] with information and facts day of the strike of the will explore “Letter” in the subject. about a worker-owned Citizens Co-op Wobs in what it means Mailing Address: cooperative store. The Gainesville, Fla. I wish to make IWW Industrial Worker, P.O. Box 180195, job sounds better than the rest of us could be membership a Chicago, IL 60618, United States. any working-class job that strong in our soli- sustainable part I have ever heard of in darity. Why can’t the of the rest of In November We Remember the United States. The paper report on positives your life. Topics Send in your announcements for the workers cooperatively Graphic: stickerkitty.com like those more often? so far include annual “In November We Remember” found ways to be able to This article in the Photo: iww.org “Getting your IWW membership card. issue of the Industrial Worker by build much better lives for themselves. The IW will only deny, degrade and disrupt second five-year Friday, October 3, 2014. Celebrate the second part changes away from facts to a the best efforts of the IWW and our allies. card,” “Wildcat political strikes,” a report lives of those who have struggled for list of complaints based on Ogier’s guesses, This style of a story is the opposite of the from the 2014 IWW General Conven- the working class with your message of one out-of-context sentence he disliked organizing and recruiting tool the IW used tion and an ongoing series called “Taboo solidarity. Send announcements to iw@ from one moment with one worker, and to always be. Please try to have reports Marxist of the Month.” iww.org. Much appreciated donations then goes into a classic right-wing attack that educate, and organize our people, I invite my fellow workers to check out for the following sizes should be sent to: on the left. not show some immature ultra-leftist who the blog, and to consider writing a guest The whole point of the IWW is to build thinks he or she is a perfectionist and ev- submission. The URL is: http://lifelong- IWW GHQ, P.O. Box 180195, toward a cooperative society run by work- erybody else is wrong, especially our most wobbly.wordpress.com. Chicago, IL 60618, United States. ers that gives us a much better life. While successful people. One class one enemy, $12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide we work toward that goal, many of our Best wishes for the future IW. Brandon Oliver $40 for 4” by 2 columns best, most active Wobs are earning their Tom Keough Readers’ Soapbox continues on $90 for a quarter page daily pay in worker-owned cooperatives, Brooklyn, NY page 11! Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Asia ERA Branches Florida Northern New Jersey: 201-800-2471. [email protected] Taiwan Clydeside GMB: [email protected] Gainesville GMB: c/o Civic Media Center, 433 S. Main St., New Mexico Industrial Unionism Cymru/Wales GMB: [email protected] 32601. Robbie Czopek, del., 904-315-5292, gainesvil- Albuquerque GMB: P.O. Box 4892, 87196-4892. 505- Taiwan IWW: c/o David Temple, 4 Floor, No. 3, Ln. 67, [email protected], www.gainesvilleiww.org Shujing St., Beitun Dist., Taichung City 40641 Taiwan. Edinburgh GMB: [email protected] 569-0168, [email protected] 098-937-7029. [email protected] South Florida GMB: P.O. Box 370457, 33137. 305-894- New York Organization Tyne & Wear GMB: [email protected] 6515. [email protected], http://iwwmiami.wordpress. Australia Bradford GMB: [email protected] com. Facebook: Miami IWW New York City GMB: 45-02 23rd Street, Suite #2, Long Education New South Wales Island City,11101. [email protected]. www.wobblycity. Leeds GMB: [email protected] Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455-6608. org Emancipation Sydney GMB: [email protected]. Laura, del., Manchester GMB: [email protected] 772-545-9591, [email protected] [email protected]. Starbucks Campaign: [email protected], Sheffield GMB: IWW Office, SYAC, 120 Wicker, Sheffield Georgia www.starbucksunion.org Newcastle: [email protected] Official newspaper of the S3 8JD. [email protected] Atlanta GMB: P.O. Box 5390, 31107. 678-964-5169, Hudson Valley GMB: P.O. Box 48, Huguenot 12746. 845- Woolongong: [email protected] [email protected], www.atliww.org Industrial Workers Nottingham GMB: [email protected] 342-3405. [email protected]. http://hviww.blogspot.com Lismore: [email protected] West Midlands GMB: [email protected] Idaho Syracuse IWW: [email protected] of the World Queensland Bristol GMB: [email protected] Boise: Ritchie Eppink, del., P.O. Box 453, 83701. 208-371- Upstate NY GMB: P.O. Box 77, Altamont, 12009. 518- 9752, [email protected] Post Office Box 180195 Brisbane: P.O. Box 5842, West End, Qld 4101. iww- Reading GMB: [email protected] 861-5627. [email protected] Illinois [email protected]. Asger, del., happyanarchy@riseup. London GMB: [email protected] Utica IWW: Brendan Maslauskas Dunn, del., 315-240- Chicago, IL 60618 USA net 3149. [email protected] Belgium Chicago GMB: P.O. Box 15384, 60615. 312-638-9155, South Australia [email protected] North Carolina 773.728.0996 • [email protected] Floris De Rycker, Sint-Bavoplein 7, 2530 Boechout, Adelaide: [email protected], www.wobbliesSA. Belgium. [email protected] Indiana Greensboro: 336-279-9334. [email protected]. www.iww.org org. Jesse, del., 0432 130 082 North Dakota Victoria German Language Area Indiana GMB: [email protected]. Facebook: IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing Indiana IWW Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. Melbourne: P.O. Box 145, Moreland, VIC 3058. mel- com General Secretary-Treasurer: [email protected], www.iwwmelbourne. Committee (GLAMROC): IWW, Haberweg 19, 61352 Bad Iowa wordpress.com. Loki, del., lachlan.campbell.type@ Homburg, Germany. [email protected]. www. Eastern Iowa IWW: 319-333-2476. EasternIowaIWW@ Ohio Monika Vykoukal gmail.com wobblies.de gmail.com Mid-Ohio GMB: c/o Riffe, 4071 Indianola Ave., Columbus Geelong: [email protected] Austria: [email protected], [email protected]. Kansas 43214. [email protected] www.iwwaustria.wordpress.com. Lawrence GMB: P.O. Box 1462, 66044. 816-875-6060 Northeast Ohio GMB: P.O. Box 141072, Cleveland 44114. General Executive Board: Western Australia Berlin: Offenes Treffen jeden 2.Montag im Monat im Cafe 440-941-0999 Perth GMB: P.O. Box 1, Cannington WA 6987. perthwob- Commune, Reichenberger Str.157, 10999 Berlin, 18 Uhr. Wichita: Richard Stephenson, del., 620-481-1442. Ryan G., DJ Alperovitz, [email protected]. Bruce, del.,coronation78@hotmail. (U-Bahnhof Kottbusser Tor). Postadresse: IWW Berlin, c/o [email protected] Ohio Valley GMB: P.O. Box 6042, Cincinnati 45206, 513- Brian Latour, Michael White, com Rotes Antiquariat, Rungestr. 20, 10179 Berlin, Germany. Kentucky 510-1486, [email protected] [email protected]. Sweet Patches Screenprinting: [email protected] Jim Del Duca, Montigue Magruder Canada Kentucky GMB: Mick Parsons, Secretary Treasurer, IWW Canadian Regional Organizing Committee (CAN- Bremen: [email protected]. iwwbremen. [email protected]. 502-658-0299 Oklahoma ROC): c/o Toronto GMB, P.O. Box 45 Toronto P, Toronto ON, blogsport.de Louisiana Oklahoma IWW: 539-664-6769. iwwoklahoma@gmail. M5S 2S6. [email protected] com Editor & Graphic Designer: Cologne/Koeln GMB: c/o Allerweltshaus, Koernerstr. Louisiana IWW: John Mark Crowder, del.,126 Kelly Lane, Alberta 77-79, 50823 Koeln, Germany. [email protected]. Homer, 71040. 318-224-1472. [email protected] Oregon www.iwwcologne.wordpress.com Diane Krauthamer Edmonton GMB: P.O. Box 4197, T6E 4T2. edmontongmb@ Maine Lane GMB: Ed Gunderson, del., 541-743-5681. x355153@ Frankfurt - Eurest: IWW Betriebsgruppe Eurest iww.org, www.iwwlane.org [email protected] iww.org, edmonton.iww.ca. Haberweg 19 D- 61352 Bad Homburg. harald.stubbe@ Maine IWW: 207-619-0842. [email protected], www. British Columbia southernmaineiww.org Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., 97214, 503-231- yahoo.de. 5488. [email protected], portlandiww.org Red Lion Press: [email protected] Hamburg-Waterkant: [email protected] Maryland Proofreaders: Red and Black Cafe: 400 SE 12th Ave, Portland, 97214. Vancouver GMB: 204-2274 York Ave., V6K 1C6. Kassel: [email protected]. www.wobblies-kassel. Baltimore GMB: P.O. Box 33350, 21218. baltimoreiww@ 503-231-3899. [email protected]. www. 604-732-9613. [email protected]. www. de gmail.com Maria Rodriguez Gil, vancouveriww.com redandblackcafe.com Joel Gosse, Nicki Meier Munich: [email protected] Massachusetts Primal Screens Screen Printing: 1127 SE 10th Ave. Vancouver Island GMB: Box 297 St. A, Nanaimo BC, V9R Rostock: [email protected]. iww-rostock.net Boston Area GMB: P.O. Box 391724, Cambridge, 02139. #160 Portland, 97214. 503-267-1372. primalscreens@ Jonathan D. Beasley, Jacob Brent, 5K9. [email protected]. http://vanislewobs.wordpress. 617-863-7920, [email protected], www.IW- gmail.com com Switzerland: [email protected] WBoston.org Don Sawyer, Neil Parthun, Manitoba Greece: [email protected], [email protected] Pennsylvania Cape Cod/SE Massachusetts: [email protected] Lancaster IWW: P.O. Box 352, 17608. 717-559-0797. Skylaar Amann, David Patrick, Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, P.O. Box 1, R3C 2G1. Iceland: Heimssamband Verkafólks / IWW Iceland, Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, P.O. [email protected] 204-299-5042, [email protected] Reykjavíkurakademíunni 516, Hringbraut 121,107 Box 1581, Northampton, 01061 Chris Heffner, Billy O’Connor, New Brunswick Reykjavík Lehigh Valley GMB: P.O. Box 1477, Allentown, 18105- Michigan 1477. 484-275-0873. [email protected]. Zachary Snowdon Smith Fredericton: [email protected], Lithuania: [email protected] www. facebook.com/lehighvalleyiww frederictoniww.wordpress.com Netherlands: [email protected] Detroit GMB: 4210 Trumbull Blvd., 48208. detroit@ Ontario iww.org. Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: 610-358-9496. pa- Norway IWW: 004793656014. post@iwwnorge. Grand Rapids GMB: P.O. Box 6629, 49516. 616-881-5263. [email protected], www.papercranepress.com Printer: Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: 1106 Wellington org. http://www.iwwnorge.org, www.facebook.com/ [email protected] St., P.O. Box 36042, Ottawa, K1Y 4V3. [email protected], iwwnorge. Twitter: @IWWnorge Pittsburgh GMB: P.O. Box 5912,15210. 412-894-0558. Globe Direct/Boston Globe Media [email protected] Grand Rapids Bartertown Diner and Roc’s Cakes: 6 [email protected] United States Jefferson St., 49503. [email protected], www. Rhode Island Millbury, MA Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Raymond Loomer, interim Alabama bartertowngr.com delegate, [email protected] Providence GMB: P.O. Box 23067, 02903. 401-484-8523. Mobile: Jimmy Broadhead, del., P.O. Box 160073, 36616. Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason 48854. [email protected] Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, [email protected] 517-676-9446, [email protected] Tennessee Next deadline is 705-749-9694. Sean Carleton, del., 705-775-0663, Alaska [email protected] Minnesota Mid-Tennessee IWW: Jonathan Beasley, del., 218 S 3rd October 3, 2014 Fairbanks GMB: P. O. Box 80101, 99708. Chris White, del., Duluth IWW: P.O. Box 3232, 55803. iwwduluth@riseup. St. Apt. 7-6, Clarksville, 37040. [email protected] Toronto GMB: P.O. Box 45, Toronto P, M5S 2S6. 647-741- 907-457-2543, [email protected]. Facebook: IWW 4998. [email protected]. www.torontoiww.org net Texas Fairbanks North Country Food Alliance: 2104 Stevens Ave S, Min- Windsor GMB: c/o WWAC, 328 Pelissier St., N9A 4K7. Arizona Houston: Gus Breslauer, del., [email protected]. U.S. IW mailing address: 519-564-8036. [email protected]. http://wind- neapolis, 55404. 612-568-4585. www.northcountry- Facebook: Houston IWW soriww.wordpress.com Phoenix GMB: P.O. Box 7126, 85011-7126. 623-336- foodalliance.org IW, Post Office Box 180195, 1062. [email protected] Rio Grande Valley, South Texas IWW: Greg, del., Québec Pedal Power Press: P.O. Box 3232 Duluth 55803.www. Chicago, IL 60618, Flagstaff IWW: 206-327-4158, [email protected] pedalpowerpress.com 956-278-5235 or Marco, del., 979-436-3719. iwwrgv@ Montreal GMB: cp 60124, Montréal, QC, H2J 4E1. 514- riseup.net. www.facebook.com/IWWRGV United States 268-3394. [email protected] Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): 970-903-8721, 4corners@ Phoenix Mental Health, P.L.C.: FW Jeffrey Shea Jones, iww.org 3137 Hennepin Ave. S., #102, Minneapolis, 55408. Utah Europe 612-501-6807 Salt Lake City GMB: P.O. Box 1227, 84110. 801-871- Arkansas 9057. [email protected] ISSN 0019-8870 European Regional Administration (ERA): P.O. Box 7593 Fayetteville: P.O. Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859. Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. Periodicals postage Glasgow, G42 2EX. www.iww.org.uk [email protected] com Vermont ERA Organisation Contacts Twin Cities GMB: 3019 Minnehaha Ave. South, Suite 50, Burlington: John MacLean, del., 802-540-2561 paid Chicago, IL. Central England Organiser: Russ Spring, central@iww. California Minneapolis, 55406. [email protected] Virginia org.uk Los Angeles GMB: (323) 374-3499. iwwgmbla@gmail. com Missouri Richmond IWW: P.O. Box 7055, 23221. 804-496-1568. Communications Department: communications@iww. [email protected], www.richmondiww.org Postmaster: Send address Sacramento IWW: 916-825-0873, iwwsacramento@ Greater Kansas City IWW: P.O. Box 414304, Kansas City, org.uk 64141. 816.875.6060. 816-866-3808. greaterkciww@ Washington changes to IW, Post Office Box gmail.com gmail.com Cymru/Wales Organiser: Peter Davies [email protected] San Diego IWW: 619-630-5537, [email protected] Bremerton: Gordon Glick, del., [email protected] 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA East of Scotland Organiser: Dek Keenan, eastscotland@ St. Louis IWW: P.O. Box 63142, 63163. Secretary: stl. Bellingham (Professional Roofcare Job Shop): IWWBel- iww.org.uk San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buyback IU [email protected]. Treasurer stl.iww.treasurer@ 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain Fabrics Job Shop gmail.com [email protected]. www.bellinghamiww.com. Membership Administrator: Rob Stirling, membership@ and IU 410 Garment and Textile Worker’s Industrial Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. 206-429- SUBSCRIPTIONS iww.org.uk Organizing Committee; Shattuck Cinemas; Embarcadero Montana 5285. [email protected]. www.seattleiww.org, Individual Subscriptions: $18 Merchandise Committee: [email protected] Cinemas) P.O. Box 11412, Berkeley, 94712. 510-845- Construction Workers IU 330: Dennis Georg, del., 406- www.seattle.net Northern Regional Organiser: Northern Regional Organ- 0540. [email protected] 490-3869, [email protected] Wisconsin International Subscriptions: $30 ising Committee, [email protected] IU 520 Marine Transport Workers: Steve Ongerth, del., Two Rivers IWW: Jim Del Duca, del., 106 Paisley Court, Madison GMB: P.O. Box 2442, 53701-2442. www. Library/Institution Subs: $30/year [email protected] Apt. I, Bozeman 59715. 406-599-2463. delducja@ Norwich Bar and Hospitality Workers IUB 640: norwich- gmail.com madison.iww.org Union dues includes subscription. [email protected] Evergreen Printing: 2412 Palmetto Street, Oakland IUB 560 - Communications and Computer Workers: P.O. Organising and Bargaining Support Department: 94602. 510-482-4547. [email protected] Nebraska Box 259279, Madison 53725. 608-620-IWW1. Madiso- [email protected] San Jose: [email protected], www.facebook. Nebraska GMB: P.O. Box 27811, Ralston, 68127. nebras- [email protected]. www.Madisoniub560.iww.org Published monthly with the excep- Research and Survey Department: [email protected] com/SJSV.IWW [email protected]. www.nebraskaiww.org Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson, tion of February and August. Secretary: Frank Syratt, [email protected] Colorado Nevada 53703. 608-255-1800. Jerry Chernow, del., jerry@ Denver GMB: c/o Hughes, 7700 E. 29th Avenue, Unit 107, Reno GMB: P.O. Box 12173, 89510. Paul Lenart, del., lakesidepress.org. www.lakesidepress.org Southern England Organiser: Nick Ballard, south@iww. 80238. 303-355-2032. [email protected] 775-513-7523, [email protected] Madison Infoshop Job Shop:1019 Williamson St. #B, org.uk 53703. 608-262-9036 Articles not so designated do Tech Committee: [email protected] Connecticut IU 520 Railroad Workers: Ron Kaminkow, del., P.O. Box not reflect the IWW’s Connecticut: John W., del., 914-258-0941. Johnw7813@ 2131, Reno, 89505. 608-358-5771. ronkaminkow@ Just Coffee Job Shop IU 460: 1129 E. Wilson, Madison, Training Department: [email protected] yahoo.com yahoo.com 53703. 608-204-9011, justcoffee.coop official position. Treasurer: Matt Tucker, [email protected] DC New Jersey Railroad Workers IU 520: 608-358-5771. railfalcon@ West of Scotland Organiser: Keith Millar, westscotland@ Washington DC GMB: P.O. Box 1303, 20013. 202-630- Central New Jersey GMB: P.O. Box 10021, New Brunswick, yahoo.com iww.org.uk 9620. [email protected]. www.dciww.org, www. 08906. 732-692-3491. [email protected]. Bob Milwaukee GMB: P.O. Box 342294, 53234. 630-415-7315 Press Date: September 19, 2014 Women’s Officer: Marion Hersh, [email protected] facebook.com/dciww Ratynski, del., 908-285-5426. www.newjerseyiww.org Northwoods IWW: P.O. Box 452, Stevens Point, 54481 October 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 3 IWW Organizing New Survey Of Online IWW Sign-Ups: A Wake-Up Call And Call To Action By FW db young, college- Yes I fit all of these is how we start branches or campaigns An IWW intern recently did a study educated union. demographics, and or committees right, and set them up to of online IWW sign-ups, receiving 38 re- This is the scary yes I can do some- grow into something actually important sponses, and I hope we take a moment to reality our online thing about it. and potentially revolutionary. If we don’t seriously consider what was learned, and sign-ups are show- How can we do this I’m not convinced we are doing what this means. Here are some highlights ing us. And I say change the idea and much more than talking a big game. Focus of the study: scary because I’ve the reality of the on the Food Chain and the Incarcerated • Around 70 percent who signed up been to college and IWW? Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC), online were 18-35 years old, 20 percent know what hap- First, I think we in all their questions and imperfections, were 36-55, and 10 percent were 56-75. pens when you’re need to get out of are both examples of this. And both focus • 92 percent of the respondents identi- around a bunch of the mindset of quick exclusively on one of the most oppressed, fied as male, 2 percent identified as female, white dudes when fixes even as we revolutionary, and active sections of the and 5 percent otherwise. they’re drinking. should be seeking working class. It should also be pointed • 63 percent of respondents identified Or in any setting Graphic: X378461 strategies and tac- out that for our all radical talk, most poor as straight, 35 percent as queer in some for that matter. tics that fix things, people, regardless of race and gender, are way; 10 percent preferred not to say. I’ve also been around the IWW and even though quicker would be nice. actually far more militant than the average • 95 percent of respondents identified know the predominance of this as a real- Second, if your branch or work com- IWW member, and if we can’t differentiate as white, with a 2 percent response rate for ity, and the way that this silences people of mittee has more than two people and between talk and action, they sure as hell Black/African American and from Asian color, women, and people with low socio- is predominantly white or male you are can. That is something we need to chew on descent, and 5 percent response rate for economic and educational backgrounds. probably doing something wrong! This when we talk about the IWW. And think American Indian, Arab, and Latino. It also makes conflicts about any of these may be hard to hear, and as someone who about who are future leaders should be. • 95 percent of respondents had spent lines of oppression—sexual assault for in- has done lots of work in all-white or largely Fourth, we have got to start running some time at college, 63 percent held a stance—worse, because the demographic male committees it is hard to say. But it events and actions and pamphlets and bachelor’s degree, and 36 percent held a realities and previous silences make such is also true. In writing this I also got this campaigns on issues that don’t impact master’s degree or Ph.D. incidents all the more painful. I have been suggestion for the union from a right-on middle-class white men, like police bru- • 95 percent claimed fluency in Eng- told it feels very different to be a woman IWW organizer who has walked the walk: tality, like patriarchy, like not having lish, 8 percent in Spanish, and 2 percent or a person of color when surrounded by “If you are organizing in food and retail documents, or having a felony conviction, in French, Czech, and German. men or white people, including a rapist or where the majority of workers are women or being pregnant. And we have to be • 42 percent identified as atheists, with a bigot, than when the demographics are of color, then your committee MUST be careful that a bunch of middle-class white a majority in the theist choices. more reflective of our revolutionary class. predominately women of color or it will men who have good things to say about Ok, wow. Who is coming to the current The point is, not only is an unrepresenta- no longer be seen as an IWW-sponsored such things do not come to the committee idea of the IWW? tive membership a barrier to changing campaign. It will not receive the support meetings or events, and sometimes even Let me say it this way. A revolutionary our demographics, but it can also make of the IWW or its resources. We must be actions, until we have a vast majority of movement that is about liberation must, by the inevitable behavior of some of our much more selective of who we spend time those who are directly linked to the diverse its nature, be made up overwhelmingly of members worse. developing into leaders and recruiting as struggles at hand. Yet we should make those who have a direct personal stake in I hope this survey is a serious wake- members.” Can you say this about your sure that this diverse new leadership is revolution. As such in the United States, up call. Personally it makes me seriously campaign? About your branch? Where do being mentored and funded to the best of this must be overwhelmingly by people question how I am going to move in this we step to make this different? our abilities, because they are our future, of color, immigrants, people with little union that is attracting 92 percent men Third, I think we need to realize that and our future leadership. What is more formal education, a majority of whom are from online sign-ups. To be clear, this is the best advocates for these changes are important? women, with over-representation from not an argument for quitting. I have put already in the IWW—committed organiz- Fifth, our website, newspaper, and queer communities. Well, fellow workers, too much time and know too many god ers who already are or are trying to expand social media should look as diverse as we got the last part, the queer part, though damn good organizers to quit right now. the idea and reality of the IWW beyond the the revolution we want to be a part of. that too needs to be assessed by economic, But if we don’t see people get moving, and current pale reality. Are you a good orga- When IWOC launched we were like “Shit! racial, and educational background. with the fierce urgency of “this is really nizer? Support these organizers in their Do we not have ANY black (or Latino, Right now, the IWW is projecting, via important; let’s slow down and figure this efforts by committing your first priority Native, or really female) people or ideas all our work—in-person, online, and so out without quick fixes or token gestures,” time to helping their projects grow. This on our website, anywhere!?” We have forth—that we are a primarily white, male, then maybe I will start thinking about it. also applies to branches as a whole. This all of these types of people in this union presently and historically, and we use IWW Constitution Preamble Join the IWW Today abolitionist language in the Preamble for The working class and the employing Christ’s sake. Can we please work on this? class have nothing in common. There can he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions And in the pamphlets we create or reprint be no peace so long as hunger and want from other sources? And in the graphics are found among millions of working today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and T we use? Now? This we have no excuse for people and the few, who make up the em- distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire and should change in every next thing we ploying class, have all the good things of population, not merely a handful of exploiters. life. Between these two classes a struggle We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially ­– ever do. Always. 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 Sixth, I think we need to critically con- organize as a class, take possession of the workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. sider the truly toxic impact a small amount means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a of problem causers and gatekeepers are system, and live in harmony with the truly international union movement in order to confront the global power of the having on individual branches, commit- earth. bosses and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fel- tees, and organizing campaigns, that keeps We find that the centering of the low workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. them from growing. It only takes one per- management of industries into fewer and We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have son to create these problems. And we are fewer hands makes the trade unions un- representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- all capable of it. I’ve done it before. Let me able to cope with the ever-growing power nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition strongly encourage preventative measures, of the employing class. The trade unions but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes early intervention, and the willingness to foster a state of affairs which allows one this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with say that no one is bigger than this union set of workers to be pitted against another an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. and our revolutionary mission. Not you, set of workers in the same industry, not me. thereby helping defeat one another in Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific workplace, or across an industry. Finally, I want to point out how, if we wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions improve how we treat each other, we will aid the employing class to mislead the Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what is- all benefit! This applies to the religious/ workers into the belief that the working sues to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. spiritual members—a majority of online class have interests in common with their employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation sign-ups!—who don’t need to be looked These conditions can be changed and and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 180195, Chicago, IL down on by our atheist members. Creat- the interest of the working class upheld 60618, USA. ing a welcoming and aware culture for only by an organization formed in such Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated low-income people or women supports a way that all its members in any one according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues people of color stepping into leadership, industry, or all industries if necessary, are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, and vice versa. It is not anti-male to be cease work whenever a strike or lockout is dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues against patriarchy. It is not anti-white on in any department thereof, thus mak- are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional people to be against white supremacy. It is ing an injury to one an injury to all. Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). not anti-middle class people to be against Instead of the conservative motto, “A capitalism! Nor does an acknowledgment 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. of patriarchy silence the trials, including must inscribe on our banner the revolu- __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. horrific ones, that men face, including with tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage individual women. Freedom from oppres- system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. Name:______sive systems betters us all; emancipation It is the historic mission of the work- is about all of us. Yet we will not free our- ing class to do away with capitalism. The Address:______selves if the least among us do not become army of production must be organized, City, State, Post Code, Country:______the first among us in the struggle, because not only for the everyday struggle with if we do not free ourselves we are not free. capitalists, but also to carry on produc- Occupation:______There is no time like the present to tion when capitalism shall have been Phone:______Email:______overthrown. By organizing industrially make real steps towards become a more we are forming the structure of the new Amount Enclosed:______truly revolutionary organization. society within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker. Thoughts? Email me: [email protected]. Page 4 • Industrial Worker • October 2014 Preventable Mistakes By Juan Conatz A lot of the knowledge and skills we pass down in the IWW are the basics, the initial steps, the first things you do. We try to institutionalize this stuff so members learn and then build off them. Rather than leaving people to them- selves, making it necessary to reinvent the wheel every time, we promote member education through pro- grams like the Organizer Photo: ufcwwest.org Trainings 101 and 102. The idea is that pany and he was out the door because of once you become familiar with what needs an offhand remark. Pissed off, two other to be done, you’ll do those things automati- co-workers and I confronted the ware- cally. And as you get better, you can assess house supervisor about this. We quickly how you’ve done or whether the steps and picked up that personal reasons between skills handed down need to be altered or him and the fired co-worker were the root improved in some way. But even those of of all this. All eight of us on the floor were us who know better make mistakes. mad and very little work was getting done. Like FW db said in his article “Toward A few hours later, the owner called a meet- A Union Of Organizers,” (July/August ing, where he tried to explain why he fired 2012 IW, page 3), there are certain things the guy and why we should understand it. that are good to do regardless of whether This ended with the two co-workers and or not a Wobbly plans to organize at their I getting into a shouting match with him. workplace. Maybe organizing isn’t in your Tempers were flaring and you could plans now, but those plans could change. cut the tension in the air with a knife. This Plus, sometimes situations arise and was now a “hot shop.” I never planned you need to react. Just such a situation on organizing there, but that was now ir- happened to me recently, where simple relevant. We had to try and get this guy’s mistakes and lack of preparation hurt my job back and to establish some meager efforts. concerted activity protection for the two At a warehouse on the south side of others and I who stood up. I tried to push Minneapolis, I was employed at a small that anger toward a conversation later, company that specialized in buying over- rather than loud complaining that would stock and customer return loads from eventually dissipate and collapse into large online retailers. For a good part of hopelessness. After texting the fired co- the day, we would break down the pallets worker, we agreed to talk on the phone from these loads and sort through the after work. With another co-worker I set items. While sorting one of these loads, up a one-on-one meeting for the next day, a co-worker made a joke about taking a so we could talk about our options and so I PlayStation 2 home with him in front of could get contact info for everyone. the warehouse supervisor. Such jokes were There was a preventable mistake with common, even by the supervisor, but this the planned one-on-one though: no firm time it was different. date and time. As we got off work and The next day, the owner of the com- entered the New Year’s Eve break, no one pany was in the building, and there were would get back to me. The timing was off, rumors that there were items missing from but my failure to do a simple thing like the load. This was actually pretty common. agree to a specific date and time led it to The packing lists rarely matched what ac- not being a priority on a busy holiday. If tually came off the truck. Sometimes there I had better prepared by sticking to what were things missing, sometimes there was I’ve been taught and know how to do it, extra. This was known by everyone, includ- things may have turned out differently. ing the owner. In the end, a few of us ended up quit- Regardless of this fact, my co-worker ting and finding other jobs, a Band-aid who had cracked the joke was fired within solution that solves nothing but transfer- the hour. Three years working at this com- ring our misery to another low-wage job. Graphic: Mike Konopacki It’s Time To Organize The Rustbelt By Martin Zehr ers were provided a modicum of support quoted at the top of this article “Every union should have a vision of from the Trade Readjustment Act (TRA) was murdered in 1969 by Tony the future,” stated Jock Yablonski as he for retraining and income support due to Boyle, who was then the president announced his candidacy for the United imports. of the UMWA. Yablonski dared to Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Since that time and because of the demand that unions defend the presidency in 1969. “What good is a union transformation of unions into company rights of miners and all workers to that reduces coal dust in the mines only unions, today union leaders are promot- a decent life. He dared to confront to have miners and their families breathe ing corporate profits as their job programs the coal bosses and the hacks killed pollutants in the air, drink pollutants in at the expense of the health and safety of him for that. the water, and eat contaminated com- working people. So steelworkers rally in This is not a debate about modities?” Munhall, Pa., with U.S. Steel and promote climate change. This is not about Rallies held on July 31 in Pittsburgh fracking and the Keystone XL pipeline and environmentalism or even reduc- focused on new regulations by the Envi- then not even a month afterwards, U.S. ing greenhouse emissions. This is ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Steel shuts down National Tube in McK- about the price being paid by ordi- emissions from power plants. The UMWA eesport. Rural communities bear the price nary working folks for the benefit Jock Yablonski talking Photo: explorepahistory.com organized a rally to protest these regula- of contaminated spring waters caused by of the world’s biggest corporations. to miners, 1969. tions at a hearing. “The UMWA estimates fracking, while Texans come in and take This is about a government that continues today, which is down 15 percent from 20 the rule could take as much as $208 bil- the jobs. There’s not even a correlation be- to tax the poor to support the rich. The years ago, according to the Wall Street lion out of coalfield communities over the tween fracking and the local economy that burden carried in working-class com- Journal. Much of the new employment next 20 years,” reported West Virginia demonstrates more jobs for local people. munities is that we are told to accept the is centered in open-pit mines of Wyo- Public Broadcasting. As mountaintop removals continue contamination of our air and water so that ming. That’s not happening because of These new regulations are certainly in West Virginia and the UMWA loses the rich can get richer. The taxes we pay for EPA regulations. It is time we speak up an indication of the profound character members, the impact continues to increase agencies that are supposed to oversee pub- for ourselves and stop letting so-called of the steps being taken against work- exponentially. Likewise, the political lic health and safety is being squandered “leaders” speak for us. If we really want to ing people. These measures have no domination by corporations has already by the domination of government. Eugene fight for jobs, it’s time we do it together. systematic approaches that establish resulted in the contamination of the water Debs said it succinctly: “The class which No pain, no gain. Spittin’ in the bucket compensation for workers’ jobs and fami- for 300,000 West Virginians along the Elk has the power to rob upon a large scale has won’t give us water to drink. We’ve got to lies impacted. Even during the Rustbelt River. The plunder is not simply to pump also the power to control the government go to the well. Let’s make sure that spring shutdowns, when steel mills closed down up corporate profits, but it is also to keep and legalize their robbery.” isn’t contaminated by false leaders and throughout the northeastern United workers having from any say in regards to The fact is that coal mining currently corporate polluters. Let’s organize where States in the 1980s, at least steelwork- their own lives. The same Jock Yablonski employs 120,699 in the United States we are for One Big Union. October 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 5 Wobbly & North American News Baltimore Jimmy John’s Workers File Lawsuit Boston Wob Battling Leukemia Needs Your Help By Mike Pesa By Geoff Carens The Balti- IWW member Chris more IWW filed “Max” Perkins has been di- six unfair labor agnosed with chronic my- practice (ULP) eloid leukemia. An experi- charges with the enced journeyman carpenter National Labor (and apprentice plumber Relations Board and electrician), Max now (NLRB) against undergoes chemotherapy. Jimmy John’s He is disabled from working Gourmet Sand- due to symptoms and side wiches, Dolchin effects like joint pain, nausea, Pratt LLC, on lethargy and sleeplessness. He has spots on his lung and Aug. 22. Jimmy FW Max Perkins at a rally. Photo: FW Le Le Lechat John’s work- recently underwent a brain ers, organizers, scan. Max’s very small income means technician], I know de-escalation tech- and supporters he urgently needs support with housing niques,” he said. These are skills which marched on the costs. His friends in the Boston IWW were in high demand in the Occupy camp. boss to make the General Membership Branch (GMB) ap- A Wobbly for many years, and now an ac- announcement, peal to all Wobs who can contribute any tive member of the Boston IWW, Max is a temporarily stop- funds to please consider supporting Max fixture at pickets by the Wobs and by other ping work at the in a difficult time. unions. In recent years he’s marched for Jimmy John’s workers and supporters. Photo: Baltimore IWW Pratt Street store Max is an activist of long standing in Harvard workers exposing racial discrimi- in Baltimore’s bustling Inner Harbor. that the firings were illegal and ordering the struggles for environmental, workers’ nation on the job, helped local Wobblies “We informed the owners when we Jimmy John’s to reinstate the workers and animal rights, and anti-fascist cam- invade the Flagship Gap store in touristy went public that we expected no retaliation with full back-pay. paigns. Max remembers that “the police Faneuil Hall to protest factory disasters in against us,” declared Jimmy John’s worker This victory has further emboldened did nothing,” when neo-Nazi skinheads Bangladesh, and helped bring the noise to and union member Brendan Camiel. “If Jimmy John’s workers in Baltimore, who marched in Germany and England in the many raucous night-time pickets during they continue to fight us, we’ll continue have been gaining national attention since 1980s. He helped organize counter-dem- Boston’s Insomnia Cookies strike (which to respond with escalating actions. I hope announcing their membership in the IWW onstrations, enduring tear gas, broken ended with offers of re-employment and we’ve made it clear today that they won’t on Aug. 9. Since that time, the union has bones and hospitalization in his zeal to cash settlements for Wobblies fired for get away with intimidating the workforce.” engaged in a tip cup action, two national shut the racists’ rallies down. As a mem- striking). The charges accuse Jimmy John’s “phone blasts,” informational pickets, and ber of the Hawaii Carpenters’ Union, Max Max has been a musician since he was franchise owner and general manager the aforementioned march. On Labor Day, took part in strikes over wage theft and the a teen, and has performed with anarcho- Mike Gillette of illegally retaliating against Baltimore Jimmy John’s workers partici- use of scab labor, and fought corruption punk acts including Radical Apathy, Plain workers who engaged in protected union pated in a national day of action along with in his union local. At Occupy Long Beach, Truth, Threatening Gesture and Napalm. activity by interrogating workers about IWW members and supporters across the Max helped organize a protest against po- His sadly-disbanded group Radical Apa- their involvement in the union, recording country. lice brutality when cops attacked a veteran thy toured a number of IWW branches workers without their consent, disciplin- The workers’ demands are centered of the Iraq war, choking him unconscious just a few months ago. Scraping by on a ing workers for issues that have never around a five-point program that includes for no reason. Max explains, “I spent three meager disability check, Max had a place previously warranted written disciplin- fair pay, consistent scheduling, paid sick months in Lincoln Park in Long Beach to live in September, but still needs hous- ary action, and threatening to discipline days, driver compensation and safety, and during winter in a tent,” facing down po- ing for the coming months, and has little a worker if he did not remove an IWW a harassment-free work environment. lice harassment. “I had a place I rented, ability to earn income. pin from his uniform. In the weeks since Since the Pratt Street store is located in a but I chose to be in the park.” Max recalls, Wobs who want to support FW Max the Pratt Street workers announced their building owned by the Hilton hotel chain, “I fed the homeless and helped mentally can send a check, made out to “Chris” membership in the IWW, management has the union is also insisting on wage parity ill people. The cops bussed people out of Perkins, to Boston IWW, P.O. Box 391724, become much more strict about enforcing with Hilton workers who have equivalent county jail, sent them to Occupy to try to Cambridge, MA 02139. All proceeds will rules that they had not observed in the job descriptions. This would raise the aver- make it impossible. I know first aid, and go towards Max’s housing costs and liv- past. Managers have bluntly admitted to age Jimmy John’s worker’s wages by more as a former EMT [emergency medical ing expenses. the workers that this crackdown was a than $3 per hour. direct response to union activity. The ULP charges are only one com- Only a few days after the announce- ponent of a multi-pronged strategy by Upstate NY Wobs Picket Baseball Hall Of Fame ment of these new charges, the NLRB the Jimmy John’s Workers Union to win involved in actions at the ruled in favor of the IWW Jimmy John’s better wages and working conditions Baseball Hall of Fame for over Workers Union in an older case stemming and more power on the job. Regardless a decade. And while the Hall from a 2011 action in Minneapolis that of the outcome of this case, workers are of Fame is not owned or oper- demanded paid sick days. Jimmy John’s determined to keep the pressure on the ated by the MLB, the owners had fired six union members in retaliation company to meet their demands. As the are closely tied and sell the for that action. In the recent decision, the next few months unfold, there may be sweatshop-produced, licensed court upheld an earlier ruling, declaring more surprises in store for Jimmy John’s. logo gear in their gift shop as a foundation of their income. It is difficult to get baseball fans who are coming to the hall to divert their attention from Strike At Seattle Restaurant Over Tip Theft their adulation of their favor- was reduced to only ite players and teams. But the one day a week, she idea is to engage the curious knew that the man- ones about the contradictions ager was retaliating FWs Rochelle Semel & Paul Poulos. Photo: Greg Giorgio of a league that promotes against her. One of By Greg Giorgio itself to youngsters in the United States Hien’s co-workers, The Upstate New York Regional Gen- and Canada, yet exploits them to produce Jeff, joined her in eral Membership Branch (GMB) of the profits from sweatshops elsewhere. investigating op- IWW went to the National Baseball Hall of “Get the kids out of the factories!” tions to redress their Fame and museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., shouted Fellow Worker Martin Manley grievances, includ- on June 16 to conduct an informational after about 40 minutes into the hour-long ing contacting the picket which called on Major League Base- demo. He said he had an epiphany while Washington State ball (MLB) to guarantee the same rights handing out copies of the flyer and peti- Department of La- Photo: libcom.org for garment workers that exist in their tion as hundreds of young boys and girls Strike at La Lot restaurant on Aug. 14. bor. However, the own players’ collective bargaining agree- were streaming into the museum from By John Kalwaic system for filing unfair labor practices ment. Wobblies set up a small literature baseball junkets they attend around the The wait staff at La Lot, a Vietnam- (ULPs) seemed slow and would take table with several issues of the Industrial area. Hundreds of youth league teams ese restaurant in Seattle, went on a brief much more time then they could afford. Worker available, as well as copies of the come to Cooperstown to tour the shops strike because management was stealing Hien and Jeff then turned to the Seattle latest edition of the anti-sweatshop news- and the Baseball Hall of Fame while they 60 percent of their tips. Management Solidarity Network (SeaSol) for support. letter produced by the GMB, called Black play in tournaments which attract them would also often verbally abuse the un- On Thursday, Aug. 14, Hien and Jeff Cat Moan. This action was conducted from all over the United States. The other derpaid staff, whose need for a job made marched on La Lot restaurant with 50 in conjunction with a petition drive put Wobblies in attendance couldn’t ignore them afraid to speak out. Many of them supporters from SeaSol. The other work- together by the IWW International Soli- the stark irony that we can celebrate our had no idea how the labor laws could work ers at the restaurant were too scared to darity Commission’s Bangladesh Working youth and the baseball culture here, but in to their advantage. Hien, a worker at the go on strike. Because of the action, they Group. It calls on outgoing MLB Commis- places like Bangladesh, some children are restaurant, realized the exploitive nature successfully shut down service at La Lot sioner Allan Huber “Bud” Selig to imple- killed in factory disasters to produce some of the restaurant’s working conditions twice. In an about-face, the owner of La ment standards in the garment industry of the garments the kids here are wearing! and began to organize her fellow workers. Lot agreed to their demands, including from suppliers in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Petitions from this action and efforts Hien approached her manager and fair tips and restoring Hien’s schedule Cambodia and other countries to provide in Pittsburgh and other Wobbly areas were asked about the tip situation. The manag- to normal. for collective bargaining, overtime pay and mailed to Commissioner Bud Selig’s office er agreed to let employees retain a greater With files from Seattle Free Press paid leave for garment workers. in early July. No reply was received at the share of their tips. When her schedule and Libcom. The Upstate New York GMB has been time of this writing. Page 6 • Industrial Worker • October 2014 Front Page News IWW UPS Workers Organize Against Police Brutality Continued from 1 that the Teamsters either can’t or won’t management harassment, speed-ups, do anything to fix these issues. And we sexual harassment and sexism, racial dis- know that we’re going to have to fight to crimination on the shop floor, and more, change things.” while soliciting contributions from other The IWW has always refused to restrict workers via email. The newsletter has itself to issues of wages and conditions and educated workers about their rights on has encouraged workers to fight against the job and called out the exploitation of exploitation and oppression both on the workers by both UPS and the Teamsters shop floor and off it. Unlike other unions union, which is happy to collect dues and workers’ organizations which see from the half of UPS’ workers working in things such as police brutality as “outside sorting hubs while forcing concessionary issues,” the IWW has a long history of contracts onto the rank and file, preserving fighting against the ways that workers are poverty wages and sweatshop conditions forced to uphold systems of oppression. Fellow workers stand against police brutality in Chicago. Photo: Diane Krauthamer for those of us whose labor makes UPS a “The rules say you have to do what you’re ful, concrete improvements in our work co-workers in order to directly fight multi-billion dollar company. told at work. Doesn’t matter what you’re and in our lives. We need an organization against management abuses and other However, the newsletter has only been shipping, what horrible things are being that isn’t afraid to stand behind work- issues workers face. They are also work- one part of the IWW activity at the hub. done with them, UPS doesn’t care, so ers when we confront management and ing with UPS workers in other hubs to IWW workers and others have frequently you don’t care,” said J.B., another IWW isn’t interested in some long, drawn-out help them form similar committees and confronted management on issues of worker. “Luckily, breaking the rules is bureaucracy. If they want to keep doing organizations, and are happy to talk to safety, harassment, and more through what the IWW does best.” that, good for them. That’s their game, but anyone interested in doing so. They urge collective actions. CB, an IWW organizer, He further added, “We don’t want to it’s not ours.” any interested UPS workers to email the noted, “We all know that conditions at take the place of the Teamsters here. What IWW workers at the Minneapolis committee at [email protected], and our work are unsafe. We all know that we we want is for workers to have an organiza- hub have stated that they are commit- add this message to fellow workers: “Don’t work too hard for too little pay. We know tion that can fight for—and win—meaning- ted to continuing to organize with their wait, organize!” The 2014 IWW General Convention: Learning From Our Mistakes, Moving Forward Continued from 1 to leave our social lives outside. So many as a woman was giving a presentation, outgrown our shell. The casual, undisci- rules, but the intent of the procedure is arguments on the floor were inflated with there were several full volume side conver- plined structure that was a good fit when violated when it gives anyone control niceties and indirect, apologetic explana- sations in the room. This is unfortunately the IWW was just a handful of members over another person’s safety or if it in any tions that it was hard to understand what a common pattern. is getting too hectic for an active, growing way adds to the trauma of victims and anybody really meant. Nobody wants to be At a point in the day when I really union. survivors who are seeking our support. rude or make their friends feel bad, but we thought I had seen it all, I decided to get I think that now is the perfect time for If the complaint procedure can be used can’t overthrow power when we’re running up and speak about a resolution. As I was an IWW revival; in fact I think the labor to make our convention a forum where around a maze of social dynamics every explaining my position, several fellow movement is waiting for the IWW to show those who speak out for justice or cry out time we need to make a decision. Business workers started yelling their counterpoints up. I’ve read mainstream news talk about for help are voiceless and hidden while meetings are there to get things done, and over me with arms waving. Their urgently wildcat strikes, minority unionism, and the accused remorselessly claims our that means being decisive and direct with disruptive outburst made me think that, direct action as the organizing tactics that space as his procedure-given right, we our ideas knowing that our fellow workers in my sleep-deprived fog, I was looking will define labor struggle in this low-wage need to fix that process. Our constitution understand that everybody is there to do at the wrong page and I was up there de- economy. We should take the hint. The did not come from some god’s fiery hand what is best for the union. In the end, we fending something we were never talking American Federation of Labor (AFL) has engraving “whereas” statements on stone should feel comfortable accepting the re- about. I handed over the microphone in been out of touch for so long that their hor- slabs. Our union wrote this constitution, sult of our democratic process and picking embarrassment and sat down. After asking rible attempts at making cat memes and and it belongs to each and every one of us up friendships where we left them before everyone around me, I was convinced that using Twitter is only showing the world to interpret and change. If you demand the meeting. I was on the wrong page, or that the sound that they are obsolete. Change to Win that people adapt to your rules rather One of the most striking impressions system was so bad that all of us in the back and the Service Employees International than adapt your rules to the people, you I got from the convention is that, like the were hearing it wrong. I tapped one of the Union (SEIU) got their modern updates, are doomed to dogmatic, self-righteous seams on our members’ unwashed pants, flailing fellow workers on the shoulder to but they are gaining a reputation as fast- isolation until you are eventually reduced this union feels like it’s held together by ask if I was on the wrong page or if they talking organizers who will put so much to peddling poorly-assembled newspapers a few worn threads and some haphazard were just heckling me. “You’re on the right energy in a campaign only to abandon it at every political demonstration like the stitches of dental floss. It made me uneasy amendment. No, we weren’t heckling you, when the money runs out. It’s time for us revolution depended on it. Just trust me to watch all the work of hosting a conven- we were telling you [your opinion is wrong to jump in, but we need a union that can on this one. tion fall on the exhausted shoulders of because x, y, z...].” handle it. We need rapid communication, So many of these conflicts are the the few solid local Wobs. Most delegates I These everyday aggressions, some organized administration, solid strategies, direct result of a union that is unable to spoke to were irritated by the consistently more subtle than others, almost always go disciplined tactics, committed members keep cohesion among its members and an poor planning and lack of communication. unchallenged. They form tiny cracks in our and serious attitudes. We also need to internal culture that is completely clueless We heard nothing about our housing ar- morale, our dedication and our solidarity. address our internal problems as serious about how to conduct union business. At rangements until the very last minute, The tiny cracks build up until the whole threats to organizing. any given point you could step outside when most of us had already either made structure, while appearing intact, is so Many of us throw our hands up and the convention hall and find at least one alternate plans or were considering pitch- weak that if you keep putting pressure on concede that we will always have our prob- disgruntled Wobbly smoking cigarettes ing a tent in the park again. We got an in- it, it will crumble faster than you expect. lems and if we just stop making such a big and soapboxing about the IWW’s short- side look into our administrative failures, We’re starting to see the real effects deal about it, we can get to work on the real comings. You would hardly recognize that and to quote one fellow worker, “I knew it of our waning faith in the IWW. Accord- issues. If we accept hostility and injustice soap-boxer as the bored delegate doodling was bad, but it’s so much worse.” We also ing to the GST’s report, our dues income as inevitable, we are no more revolutionary through the endless dissection of each got an inside look into the Chicago GMB, was $20,000 less than expected for the than the Democrats or the Mr. Blocks of word in a resolution that probably won’t and I completely understand that good year. We pay our dues directly instead of middle management. pass anyway. That delegate will not stand help must be very hard to find. Still, there’s by check-off specifically as a way to show Of course there will be conflict, but up and say what they really think because only so much a person can take, and some our level of involvement and satisfaction the struggle is not about expecting a per- every word will somehow be taken as a people were expected to take much more with the union. So when the membership fect world. It is about fighting for a better personal statement. The IWW culture does than that. It was a relief to make it to the is withholding $20,000 worth of dues in world. Contentment only drives stagnation not communicate a clear border between end of convention with both our union and a single year, it is a flashing sign of disap- by claiming that this is the best we can do, union business and personal relationships, our General Secretary-Treasurer’s (GST’s) proval. Considering our relatively low we are not capable of anything greater, and and it’s starting to put a strain on both. sanity still mostly intact. budget and small membership, $20,000 is if we are, it is not worth the hassle. I am not Fortunately, the rest of convention Unfortunately, when our union is way too much money to be coincidental. In content because I carry a card that says I was walkout-free after the Great Schism barely holding together, we are barely fact, if those missing dues came out of the am committed to forming the structure of of 9:30 a.m., but the lingering effects holding on to our principles. On the night union’s pocket every year instead of just the new society within the shell of the old, of such unexpected hostility gave the of my arrival, amidst friendly chats with never going in to begin with, it would be and if the union how it stands now is what proceedings on the convention floor a fellow workers, I was approached with a one of the biggest expenses in our budget, the new society looks like, the revolution particularly meek and disoriented tone. comment about how it would be a wise a close second to GST and staff wages. would hardly be worth the bullets. If we Nervous Wobs spoke with extra delicate strategy for the union to sexually exploit I am hardly surprised that our finances ever want the IWW banner to see the end language, passively dancing around any- me for their organizing efforts. Since no- reflect such a lack of confidence in our of capitalism, we have to believe that this thing resembling confrontation. While we body ever takes the good advice of shut- union. It’s time we stop tiptoeing around union is worth fighting for. We need to made the right decision on the Chicago ting their mouth when they say the words the elephants in the room and start facing rededicate ourselves to the One Big Union question when a vote was put in front of “so this is going to sound really sexist...” our union’s problems with honesty and because when we took a red card we vowed us, our self-conscious, evasive response I should be carrying ear plugs as harm concern. Why would anyone trust us to to build a new society, and every stamp to conflict does not inspire confidence in reduction. build a world free from oppression and represents our renewed pledge. We can a union. The convention did not feel like Announced sexism was kept to a mini- exploitation when we are either too indif- let capitalism grind down our bones until the annual assembly of radical labor; it mum at this year’s convention, but there ferent or too afraid to confront these issues we have no more profit to give and we are sounded more like the first meeting of a were so many blatant acts of misogyny that in our own organization? buried in the earth our bosses own, or we student organization where people only I wish were all prefaced with a warning. I see this time as a crucial turning can inspire each other and fully engage show up for the free pizza. That way I could get enough ear plugs for point for the union: our membership is ourselves in the only work in which profits Confronting difficult problems within everybody. One fellow worker observed growing, our tensions are high, and our are ours and ours alone: the struggle for the structure of a business meeting is such that the delegates were respectfully atten- reliance on friends and good intentions the emancipation of the working class. a struggle for us because we can not seem tive during every man’s report, but as soon has produced total stagnation. We have So pay your damn dues. October 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 7 Front Page News A Labor Day Weekend For The Unseen Laborers Continued from 1 and against the prison industrial complex tial core conflicts that could arise, given prison culture next to their almost ency- involuntary servitude, except as punish- seemed like an unattainable ideal, but I the nature of the work—such as whether clopedic knowledge of radical concepts ment for a crime. It is now 2014, and most didn’t carry that with me when I left. There prisons are necessary at all and what kind and the organizers with experience on prisons are filled with minor offenders is no criticism of the IWW Incarcerated of time frame people will come to find the outside, whose energy for the work is serving double-digit sentences, work- Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC) prisons obsolete, if ever. The objective of only matched by the varied skill sets they ing and producing goods for 75 cents an that I could make that wasn’t made within these discussions wasn’t to come up with bring to the table, I can’t find a weak link. hour if they’re lucky. Incarcerated people the group, and beyond that, given concrete a specific stance on any of those items, but Additionally, a 15-minute presentation are forced to work in incredibly unsafe ways to overcome those weaknesses. For rather to put any sort of ideological dif- which included IWOC’s five-point plat- conditions with little to no safety train- instance, we found that meetings consisted ferences on the table. Thus we will have a form elicited a standing ovation from the ing around heavy industrial equipment. of a group that was somewhat small in better understanding of what the makeup IWW General Convention. Shortly after, Combined with environmental conditions number and mostly white. Instead of try- of our group really is and this will help a delegate from Milwaukee reached out, that put certain people (people of color for ing to deny that that would be less than keep those conflicts from building beneath asking for more details and any ways that the most part) on track for incarceration beneficial to us as organizers focusing the surface. he can help. from an early age, we have what is called on American prisons, by the end of the It would be a little ridiculous to try and So what I hope, and it’s a hope that the prison industrial complex, one of the weekend IWOC members in attendance claim that the group of about 15 people feels justified, is that the One Big Union most brutal intersections of racism and had drawn up a plan for outreach focused from across the United States could do will become a bit bigger by extending its capitalism in the modern age. on those most affected by prisons and cre- what IWOC plans to do on our own, but hand to incarcerated people, and those It’s not unusual for me to lean on the ated a structure for organizing across the that won’t stop me from saying that, people will not find themselves attached Marxist concept of self-criticism a little too nation in a way that would allow regional based on what I saw, the right people are to a bureaucratic and capitalistic structure heavily, so that may have colored my ini- groups to organize however works best for involved to help start a movement that that is unaware of their existence, but tial feelings about the conference. For the them while being supported by a national can. Between the formerly incarcerated instead will find the tools for their own lib- first few moments, radical change within network. Additionally, we explored poten- members with an in-depth knowledge of eration, and from there, do what they will.

Wobbly Art Olas Del Caribe Below is a morsel of South Florida his- that take us all around the Caribbean and to build Ybor City tory and its visceral connection with the back, the same waters that many organiz- as a cigar town Caribbean. South Florida IWW member, ers and activists from the islands used as where they could Monica Kostas, gives us an illustration an escape route to evade repression. set the guidelines called “Olas del Caribe” and tells us a bit It is incredible to think that Key West, and play by their about what inspired her drawing. today a capital of bros, beers, and spring own rules. break, was the center of political turmoil Because of the By Monica Kostas at the turn of the 20th century. proximity of Flor- Lately, I’ve been researching the As the southern tip of the southern- ida to Cuba, work- buried radical labor history of Florida, most state of the United States, the piece ers in these new particularly South Florida. Today we look that hangs off so fragilely like an extended factory towns in around us and the level of political activ- hand that bridges the Caribbean to the the United States ity is less than lively. However, there’s land of blank slates, or as some of us would were able to follow obviously a context—our conditions are say, the land that allows un buen borrón y closely the labor inseparable from the larger socio-eco- cuenta nueva, Florida was not only a new organizing hap- nomic situation of the United States and horizon for people in search of work and a pening in Cuba. the world at large. The economic crisis of more comfortable life. These shores were One such event, 2008 has rippled beyond its foreseeable also seen as uncharted territory for fleeing for instance, was scope, leaving the general population Latino socialists and anarcho-syndicalists the victory of a stumbling through a scarcity of jobs, ris- who thirsted for new land to spark revolu- prolonged cigar Graphic: Monica Kostas ing debt, and continuing repercussions tions. Dreams of a better future were not strike in 1902 that of the mortgage crisis. Inevitably, the only reserved for utopians however—capi- sparked a multitudinous parade of thou- facet of radical labor history in Florida. climate of South Florida is no stranger talists who wished to expand business in sands of Latino workers marching from In turn, the woman in focus cyclically to these ill consequences symptomatic the Caribbean but did not want to deal with Ybor City to West Tampa where celebra- points back to the island for her compa- of capitalist workings. But this goes back bureaucratic guidelines from Spain also tions erupted. ñeras to look at the laundry workers as before the crisis, speaking more spe- bet on their future in the Sunshine State. Two years later, the first labor walk- a way to incentivize their own organizing cifically about work. The lack of political In the late 1800s while the cigar out among Havana laundry workers was efforts. The drawing thus tries to grasp an turbulence points to the ever refinement industry sprouted (and boomed explo- organized in Cuba, solely by women who emblematic instance of the ceaseless ex- of the boot that quells resistance through sively) in Key West with a wave of Cuban were mostly Afro-Cubans. Many of these change that weaves indivisibly the shores various ploys: atomization of work, labor immigrants, strikes and labor unrest soon brave women were arrested when police of Florida to the Caribbean at large. bureaucracy, exploitation of immigrants, caught up as well. As tycoons the world suppressed the strike. For more information on this sub- to name a few. over started to get familiar with the popu- “Olas del Caribe” aims to depict this ject, you can check out: “The Immigrant Nevertheless, the crushing step of lar Havana cigars, their hopes to open up relationship; in particular this dialogue World of Ybor City” by Gary R. Mor- the sole was not always the same; there factories in Key West were soon halted as between the women laundry workers mino, & George E. Pozzetta, “Southern were times in Florida history when rebel they heard the news about factory workers in Havana and the women in the cigar Discomfort – Women’s Activism in Tam- workers scared the crap out of bosses and being too unruly to deal with. The discord factories in Tampa. Las olas that rippled pa, Florida, 1880s-1920s” by Nancy A. capitalists. Let me explain. Digging a bit carried out by the organized workforces of from the island to the mainland carried Hewitt and “Miami’s Hidden Labor His- below our feet, there isn’t only the sand Key West chased businessmen north to with them the wisdom, inspiration, and tory” by Thomas A. Castillo (published in upon which we build but also the waters the city of Tampa where they were forced militancy that influenced an important The Florida Historical Quarterly). Participate In The 2014 Subscribe to the Industrial Worker IWW Organizing Survey! Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription. The IWW Survey & Research Committee (SRC)—part of the Orga- Give a gift that keeps your family nizing Department Board—has just launched our 2014 member survey and friends thinking. at: http://bit.ly/Yg2SwA. We hope you can take 5 to 10 minutes of your Get 10 issues of working class news time to complete this survey and to share it with as many of your fel- and views for: low workers as possible. 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Page 8 • Industrial Worker • October 2014 Reviews Wobbly Poet Keeps The Tradition Of Labor Poetry Alive Wayman, Tom. Built to Take It: Selected while it sits, or if a family or town, In one way, we are: the I.W.W. said Poems 1996-2013. Spokane, WA: Lynx headphones on, ear- nation or oc- in 1905 that world labor needs House Press, 2014. Paperback, 180 pages, buds pumping cupational group a world-wide union. That was think- $19.95. music directly into should help bear ing “globalization” the auditory nerve, this responsibility, long before the capitalist conceived By Don Sawyer vocabulary shrink- or whether none of our of the term. Whether as song lyrics or verse, poetry ing separate lives But the bosses are far ahead of us has always been a part of the labor strug- along with can tangibly improve when it comes to gle, amply displayed in “IWW Songs to cognitive ability – apart from all the lives putting the concept into practice. I Fan the Flames of Discontent” (a.k.a. “The consequence of too around us don’t doubt we’ll get there eventually. Little Red Songbook”), a constant best- much television – that being the effect I just wish we weren’t so damned seller since its introduction in 1909. In a before age three, of sharing slow. time when literacy was marginal and the perhaps, or excessive a location and clump of struggle brutal, rousing labor hymns, often cellphone use years with so Any parting advice? using well-known melodies but featuring – eyes blank many other souls. If you can get out into the countryside very different lyrics, were a vital part of as a missing comma. away from the smog and the noise the movement. Many Wobbly greats such Graphic: amazon.ca One of Wayman’s and the money pollution, as T-Bone Slim (Valentine Huhta), Ralph Wayman’s more polit- trademarks is his blend- you’ll observe in the nighttime sky the Chaplin, and Joe Hill were as well known ical poetry is refreshingly radical, drawing ing of prose and poetry and imagined three shining stars of the I.W.W.: for their verses as their direct action. on the IWW’s anarcho-syndicalist tradi- interactions with historical—and cur- Education, Organization, Emancipa- With the loss of labor militancy and tion, practice and principle: rent—figures. tion. a society more attuned to the songs of Back in the city, if you look real hard “American Idol” contestants and Justin (from “Anthem”) (from “Exit Interview: Utah Phillips [1935- on a clear day, Bieber, the poetry of work and workers I, too, would say We’re built to take it. 2008]”; after his death, Utah responds to a you can see those same three stars. largely disappeared. But not entirely. Both My perspective, though, is rather question about new media by explaining): in North America and especially Chile and along Where do you think you’re going now? other South American countries, writers the lines of The rulers of this life are happy to I believe I will permanently achieve have kept the tradition of labor poetry the factory adage: “If you can run that have you shut yourself off what for so many years on tour alive. (Check out the work of the 50 “poet machine, pushing at buttons on a computer I demanded of my hosts who billeted laborers” who are part of the Poetic Labor you can wreck it.” I’d argue keyboard me: Project: http://www.labday2010.blogspot. since we make it all, we can take it all. – thus giving the powers-that-be a a bed com/2014/05). free ride in a room One of North America’s outstanding Clearly Wayman has been there—be- in the real world. You can exchange with a door work writers is Canadian Tom Way- sides teaching, he worked in construction virtual information by the hour that closes. man, who, according to “The Canadian and on a truck assembly line—and his or hit “send” to add your name to Encyclopedia,” “has a unique voice in writing reflects his understanding of the another online petition Tom Wayman is the rare poet who has Canadian poetry as an ardent spokesman realities of the workplace, which he power- or denounce anything in your blog. the ability to put our lives into verse in a and advocate for the workplace.” Wayman fully captures: That sound you faintly hear in the way that helps us see ourselves and oth- has been at it for a long time, penning his background ers with greater compassion and clarity, earliest work in the 1960s while active in (from “May Day 2001: Negotiating a is the chortling of the ruling class: and while he does tread the poet’s usual southern California and Colorado chapters New Collective Agreement”) they’ve got you turf—“love, nature, death” as he describes of the Students for a Democratic Society, We slide a sheet of green paper exactly where they want you. it—he finds poetry in the everyday, and and later spearheading the resuscitation across the table. The three people particularly in our daily work. “No human of the Vancouver (and Canadian) IWW. who face us Further on, the interviewer asks Phil- emotion is absent from the worksite,” Tom With this new collection of his work, “Built regard the page with distaste lips about his legacy, and here we see Way- writes in the introduction, “since a place to Take It: Selected Poems 1996-2013,” or fear or contempt. In their eyes man’s ability to weave Wobbly wisdom and of employment is where human beings not we are treated to some of Wayman’s lat- a small animal – gopher, squirrel – philosophy into his writing. The poem has only gather, but where they contribute for est—and arguably best—poetry. frantically tests the confines of a trap, Utah say: good or ill to the daily re-creation of the Recognizing that while we are all claws clinging to walls, ceiling, wall community.” And the undemocratic nature workers we are also lovers, sons/daugh- once more. The Wobblies – the Industrial Work- of most workplaces and their domination ters, grievers, observers, “Built to Take ers of the World – by “unelected authorities, who control not It” not only provides the reader with a Wayman is a realist, yes, but he never knew back in 1905 that your life only our work but also the uses to which nice sampling of poems dealing with all abandons the ideal, the principles of a just doesn’t change for the better the wealth generated by our work are put” aspects of work (among other jobs, Way- and fair society; it’s just that he knows how because the team you root for wins, shapes who we are: “The schizophrenic man taught writing at several universities, hard it is to create that world: or because you buy something existence of daily shuttling between the and his takes on this peculiar workplace you don’t really need. Your life is status of an obedient, unquestioning are often hilarious), but also just gener- (from “May Day 2001”) improved employee and that of a critically thinking, ally being human. Wayman is known for In 1905 the Wobblies said when your working day changes – free citizen of a democracy—essentially, his wry humor, and much of his writing is one class, one enemy, one union, when there’s a real turnabout in between being regarded as a child and as softened by self-deprecating wit: and that a contract is only a negoti- the power relations at your job, when an adult—influences our behavior toward ated truce there’s a real change every relationship we have: family, inti- (from “Teaching English”) in an ongoing war. All of which I in the impact the goods and services mate, peer, workmate, community.” Can I convey anything believe you create each shift have This is a remarkable collection of po- to help English function better but I also see one species on other people and our planet. ems by a poet whose work is not just com- where it earns a paycheque blundering ahead through the ages, pelling because of the sweep and power or during intimate encounters? ever uncertain if each individual And the late folksinger/activist adds: of his language, but because of his insight I regard it, scratch my head. alone should take care I like to imagine we could be ahead of into the joys, realities and challenges of It stares back at me of himself or herself, the curve for once. being human.

Wobbly Photography It’s Sunday In Colombia Miami IWW member AB Kunin took Colombia. People are out to vote. You can this picture (on the right) during his smell and feel the pollution lingering. It’s trip to Bogotá, Colombia. It was taken as thick as the eerie silence that is waiting during the recent election on Sunday, to be broken. From street corner to street May 25, 2014. He was taking a walk to corner, Polícia Militar shuffle back and an outdoor market in an affluent neigh- forth with their military grade weapons. borhood that’s only open on Sundays, I, on the other hand, come prepared. For when he took this image. Overall, it is this time I do my own dance, moving side a great photo that displays a nice con- to side, a little bit up and a little back, I lift trast between the militia and the older my hands, point and as the man with his gentleman, which highlights the political high-powered rifle looks into the distance, tension that persist today in Colombia. I pull my trigger. Boom! Hands down, Not only that, he also wrote an amazing eyes forward and continue on. The officer anecdote (located below) of how he took never knew what hit him. Eyes unceasingly this image. It is an exciting piece to read. moving left, right, up, down, searching for something new. I turn left at the corner. By AB Kunin There is an older gentleman graciously There is quietness in the streets as drifting through the streets with his hand we pass through them searching for the behind his back. He takes this wonderful market. It’s Sunday, May 25: election form as he walks. Boom! Click! Hand back day. A new president will be selected in in bag. I move on. Photo: AB Kunin October 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 9 Reviews The ABC’s And Beyond: Building Blocks For Revolutionary Unionism Brill, F.N. The ABC’s of Revolutionary the rich can become richer.” How the IWW Organizes than under “Methods and Tactics.” I Unionism. Available online: http://www. Although well-written, this The next section, “How don’t really see solidarity as a method or iww.org/about/official/abc. section does not properly ex- the IWW Organizes,” begins a tactic, as it is fundamental to the basis plain why the IWW opposes with a discussion of industrial of our union and the labor movement as a By Transcona Slim capitalism. unionism and about being whole. If the IWW’s tactics are “flexible,” “The ABC’s of Revolutionary Union- The next part of the One Big Union, recognizing does that mean we are flexible about the ism” by F.N. Brill, part of the IWW’s “Principles” section is “The that we organize into one method of solidarity? I know the business “official literature,” purports to be an IWW is Non-Political.” It union because we all have unions talk of solidarity while throwing “introduction to our union [which] will explains that the IWW is common interests. This is others under the bus, but, as the radical inspire you to join with us.” As I under- “non-political and it does not only one sentence, and it wing of the labor movement, we should stand it, an “ABC’s of [something]” is a interfere with political beliefs does not really explain the hold ourselves to a higher principle. way to put to paper, in the most basic way, or activities of its members.” idea of One Big Union at all. I The “Solidarity” section goes on to ex- the foundations of a theory or organiza- It is correct in saying that Photo: libcom.org think that these two concepts plain how the employing class separates us tion. As such, it seems the intent is to give “whoever holds economic power also (industrial unionism and the idea of One on a variety of lines in order to weaken us this pamphlet to individuals who want holds political power” but to frame it in Big Union) could have been merged into but that we can, through solidarity, cross to know the basics of the union’s theory, the language of being “non-political” is one section. those lines, join together, and stand up principles and tactics to encourage them problematic. You cannot declare that the Industrial unionism is not explained for our common interests and for a better to join. If that is the case, then I do not IWW is revolutionary and anti-capitalist well. I know people I’ve worked with who, world. This is probably the best-written think that the “ABC’s” best represents or and at the same time say that it is “non- when told about industrial unionism, have section and best explanation of the concept gives a clear understanding of the theory, political.” The abolition of the wage system said, “My job isn’t an industrial job; I work of solidarity and the kind of movement we principles, and tactics and does not mesh is a political goal, and, while it is true that in fast food.” This doesn’t help explain want to build. with the organizational strategy the union “whoever holds economic power also holds that common misunderstanding that “in- The section called “We Are All Lead- has developed since this was written. I political power,” that only means that eco- dustrial” is not a term to reference a type ers!” connects with the understanding will explore this idea by surmising the nomics are political in nature, that there of workplace (most commonly perceived of rank-and-file control and democracy pamphlet and discussing the things that is no separation into simple boxes where as “heavy manufacturing”) but rather explained in the section about the world- I found problematic and useful within it. “economics” is over here and “politics” is component parts of an economy grouped wide reach of the IWW. It discusses the The pamphlet is laid out in four differ- over there. together as wider “industries.” fact that there are those capable people ent sections: an introduction, “Principles,” Trade unions generally have social- Moreover, if one doesn’t know the sig- who grow within the ranks of the IWW “How the IWW Organizes,” and “Methods democratic politics: they organize on the nificance of “craft” or “trade” as descriptive because they are able to present ideas and and Tactics.” The introduction discusses basis of support for capitalism, social nouns, he or she may not understand what map tactics to fit the conditions around the growing wealth disparity in the world partnership with bosses, representation of makes the IWW different. Trade unionism them. I wouldn’t call these folks leaders, (which continues to grow) and the envi- workers, and top-down bureaucracy; they is not as significant of a force as it used to but organizers. This is the goal of the IWW ronmental, cultural, and human impact aim to get the best deal within the limits be. Most mainstream unions can now be and the Organizer Training program—to that comes with the drive for profit. of the established order. described as “general unions.” Due to the develop each and every member to be an On the other hand, the revolutionary decline of unionism in North America, organizer, to make the idea of “we are all Principles unionism that we advocate for is based all unions are looking to take whatever leaders” a reality. The “Principles” section starts off on revolutionary anti-capitalism. We members they can, rather than splitting The “Non-Violence” section is the with the full IWW Preamble as “our basic want to organize using direct action, self- them up into smaller bargaining units, most problematic within this group. While statement of principles.” As Wobblies, we organization, and rejection of capitalism, guilds and crafts. it is correct that violence has always been recognize the central role of the Preamble which we aim to replace with a cooperative The next three points are about where the first strategy of employers against as a statement of principles. With that be- commonwealth of all labor. the IWW organizes. Locally the IWW is strikers, and that workers have a right ing said, without any context or explana- This is a case of using terms in anach- organized into Job Branches, Industrial to defend themselves, the problem lies tion, the Preamble can be a lot to digest ronistic ways. In 1905, politics meant Union Branches, and General Membership when it abstracts any lessons of the end at once. The author just pastes it there as something else; specifically, politics was Branches. Regionally the IWW is orga- of the Communist Bloc. It argues that our principles without an explanation of the term used for activity in the electoral nized into Regional Organizing Commit- “Those states collapsed when people of all what any of it means. To some, the 19th arena. Politics is no longer used in this way tees, which coordinate activities in wider classes refused to participate in them” and century language can be off-putting. Our anymore—there has been recognition that regions and nations. Worldwide, IWW connects that to a potential non-violent Organizer Training curriculum argues that politics goes beyond simply electoralism members are recognized as such, whether general strike, where “workers refuse to we shouldn’t lead with the Preamble for and now has a much broader understand- they are in Portland or Sierra Leone. participate in Capitalism.” this very reason. For an introduction of the ing. As such, the phrase “the IWW is non- The “worldwide” section discusses the This is a very simplistic and class col- Preamble, it would be more useful to start political” is one which needs to be replaced way decisions are made in the IWW as well laborationist understanding of the dissolu- with Tim Acott’s “Annotated Preamble to with an understanding that the IWW is as the different internationally elected tion of the Eastern European police states. the IWW Constitution,” which explains the non-electoral or anti-parliamentary. The positions of the IWW. It rightly stresses It wasn’t simply people’s non-participation Preamble in more modern language than IWW has its own politics that it expresses the importance of protecting democracy with those states but the active movement how it is presented here. in the workplace and won’t interfere with and limiting the growth and development of different strata of society against those The section titled “To Emancipate your right to vote (or not vote) for which- of a bureaucracy. The real problem with states, each with different and competing the Working Class” is about the goal of ever party you want, so long as you don’t this section is that it’s easy to get lost in interests. the IWW to abolish capitalism. It makes try and use the IWW to further the goals this bombardment of structural acronyms: In 1905, one could have argued that the point that the IWW is radical with of your political party. ROC, GEB, GST, IWW. Talk about attack a general strike could be a non-violent, comparisons that the IWW is “as radical The next part is a brief section on the of the acronyms! peaceful transition to a post-capitalist as a scientist in her laboratory, as radical lack of religious bias in the IWW, point- society. From where we are now, it seems as a surgeon planning the removal of a dis- ing out that the IWW wishes to extend Methods and Tactics like a naïve wish that we can simply strike eased growth, as radical as a teacher must freedom (including religious freedom), not The section entitled “Method and Tac- and those in power will just give up if we be to tell the truth.” I think a better un- restrict it. I really don’t understand why tics” begins with the bullet point “Flexible wait long enough. derstanding would be to say that we mean this is a point to make. Of course we are Tactics,” which discusses that workers are “The ABC’s of Revolutionary Union- radical as in “to the root.” We are looking non-religious, we are a union; we organize the ones who make the decisions about ism” ends with a quick call to membership at the root causes of social, economic, and all workers even if they are religious. This how to struggle for better conditions, and and a link to the IWW website. It seems political inequality and have come to the point can be better made in a “Frequently the IWW is flexible in terms of what kind like this pamphlet came out of a time when realization that “capitalism has created an Asked Questions (FAQ)” rather than a of tools it has at its disposal. the IWW was growing but didn’t have an unhappy world that poisons our dreams, pamphlet that presents itself as the basics I don’t think that flexibility is the right organized, unified strategy like we have our families and the world itself, all so of revolutionary unionism. way to put it. There are things that the now. If this pamphlet is an explanation of IWW is inflexible about when it comes the basics of revolutionary unionism in a Sponsor an Industrial Worker to its methods and tactics, such as being way that everyone can quickly understand, opposed to dues check-off and no-strike I don’t think it succeeds. The concepts are Subscription for a Prisoner clauses. There are times when workers often masked with leftist talk and not fully may want to agree to dues check-off or developed in a way that regular people not Sponsor an Industrial Worker no-strike clauses in collective bargain- within the socialist milieu could quickly subscription for a prisoner! The ing agreements, but, as the IWW, we’ve gravitate to. It does get something right IWW often has fellow workers agreed that those methods and tactics are in some places such as “flexible tactics” & allies in prison who write to not something we should be flexible with, and “non-violence.” I think some of this is us requesting a subscription to as in the long-term they do not move us not necessarily the basics of revolutionary toward democratic workplaces, but rather unionism but rather F.N. Brill’s projec- the Industrial Worker, the official away from them. tions of what the basics of revolutionary newspaper of the IWW. This is This is also the only section where unionism are. your chance to show solidarity! the concept of direct action is mentioned. As I understand it, “official literature” The idea that workers making decisions means that the IWW endorses the ideas For only $18 you can buy one as workers about how to fight is better of the pamphlet, and it is part of further- full year’s worth of working-class explained as direct action, not under the ing our education about the means and framework of “flexibility.” Moreover, tactics of the union. I think “The ABC’s of news from around the world for a “direct action” itself is a far greater ABC Revolutionary Unionism” reflect a time fellow worker in prison. Just visit: of revolutionary unionism than “flexible in the union and as such people should http://store.iww.org/industrial- tactics.” read it, but only to understand where the worker-sub-prisoner.html to order After flexibility is a point about “soli- union was in terms of principles, theory, the subscription TODAY! darity.” I wonder if this section is better and tactics in the 1990s. I don’t think it fitted in the “Principles” section rather should be on our list of “official literature.” Page 10 • Industrial Worker • October 2014 October 2014 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Abandon Marx—Really? By Blaise Farina Ferguson claims that Marx denied be- most effective scale at which revolu- In a play called “Marx in Soho” by ing a Marxist because he knew his disciples tionary class struggle and opposition Howard Zinn, Karl Marx, having con- would get it wrong—and, as it turns out, should be executed. Both Wobblies vinced the “afterlife authority” for an op- Ferguson asserts, “no revolution which and Marx advocated activism, but portunity to clear his tainted name, enters claimed to follow his ideas attempted to where the Wobblies agitated daily a New York City stage and addresses the abolish the wage system.” Has Marx been for immediate gains exclusively in audience: misinterpreted? Consider that when Marx the fields and factories where they “Good of you to come. You weren’t wrote “this much is certain…I myself am longed to organize workers into One put off by all those idiots who said: ‘Marx not a Marxist” he was referring not to Big Union, Marx (although focusing is Dead!’ Well I am and I am not…They long-run revolutionary ideas but rather to more heavily on historical capitalist are proclaiming that my ideas are dead!… how he felt his sons-in-law, Paul Lafargue development than on working class These clowns have been saying it for more and Charles Longuet, had been misrep- politics) considered practical class than a hundred years. Don’t you wonder resenting his ideas on the local politics politics crucial because he believed why it necessary to declare me dead again of radical French workers, according to the proletariat was destined at an and again?” Franz Mehring’s “Karl Marx” and “Karl unpredictable moment to assume Zinn’s Marx asks a reasonable ques- Marx: The First International & After,” political power and prompt the tion! Some answer by arguing there is edited by David Fernbach. Consider that state’s revolutionary transition. Both not much market for abstruse texts like although Marx envisaged the withering championed the goal of revolution, Marx’s. Others contend Marx overlooks of the state, he repudiated speculative but where the Wobblies engaged the slew of more significant issues of gen- forecasts on both socialist economics and in the sort of direct agitation at der, race, religion, ethnicity, not to ignore classless utopian society; and so, the legacy the point of production that might sexuality, terrorism, and the environment. he left to his successors on the question precipitate a general strike across Graphic: pinterest.com/wendyphd Still others maintain Marx (and the insep- of revolution remains unanswered. Con- an industry, Marx devoted himself arable Friedrich Engels) offer no insight sider, moreover, that Marx espoused a to crafting a powerful theoretical critique tion, existing not between themselves, but for today’s daily working-class struggles. version of materialism rather than some- of bourgeois political economy and con- between the products of their labour. This Such a dismal view of Marx is pro- thing like crystal ball spiritualism—and, tends (in “Capital,” Volume 1, Chapter is the reason why the products of labour moted in Benjamin Ferguson’s “Easy On as the historical sociologist Immanuel 32 of “Collected Works,” Volume 35) that become commodities, social things whose The ‘Capital’-ism,” which appeared on Wallerstein puts it in his book “Historical capitalism’s contradictory character would qualities are at the same time perceptible page 2 of the July/August 2014 issue of Capitalism,” “[Marx] knew, as many of his steer the transition from world capitalism and imperceptible by the senses…There is the Industrial Worker. Ferguson notes self-proclaimed disciples often do not, that to world socialism and communism. a definite social relation between men, that he enjoys some of Marx’s “musings” such he was a man of the nineteenth century Speaking at Marx’s graveside, Engels assumes, in their eyes, the fantastic form as “if you tell a capitalist you are going to whose vision was inevitably circumscribed stated that although he had witnessed of a relation between things.” hang him, he’ll try to sell you the rope” by that social reality...Let us, therefore, use Marx’s death, “[Marx’s] name [and work] “This,” Marx declares, “is what I and “I am not a Marxist.” He also likes his writings in the only sensible way—that will endure through the ages” (“The Marx- call the Fetishism which attaches itself that Marx “wrote words which the IWW of a comrade in the struggle who knew as Engels Reader”). Why should this be so? to labour, so soon as they are produced would include in its Preamble.” But Fer- much as he knew.” Does Marx’s work do more than empty- as commodities, and which is therefore guson’s convulsive rejection of Marx is Probably Ferguson’s discontent echoes mindedly “drone on about the value of inseparable from the production of com- remarkable. “[I]t seems like a shrinking the general theoretical and practical dis- labor and commodities”? modities” (“Capital” Volume 1 of “Col- faction on the left will forever wave Karl crepancy between Wobblies and Marx It is unnecessary to wave Marx’s texts lected Works,” Volume 35). Marx’s ‘Capital’ like Cotton Mather waved (and even many Marxists). At first glance, like Mather waved the Bible in order to Marx professes commodity production his Bible,” charges Ferguson. “Yet we are Wobblies and Marx appear to share com- appreciate how conceptually rich and and exchange transforms social relations never treated to anything exciting by those mon rhetorical ground. From Engels’ inspiring Marx’s work is. Marx made mis- of production between humans into rela- who think our anti-capitalist actions will March 1883 speech at Marx’s graveside takes. But Marx was a fastidious scholar, tions between things, which appear to improve vastly from yet one more dead at London’s Highgate Cemetery, we read whose cascading energy prompted him possess lives of their own, so much so that white European…And drone on about the (in “The Marx-Engels Reader,” edited by to pen intellectual thought that fit no what was once workers’ control over their value of labor and commodities, but those Robert C. Tucker) that Marx was “before single conventional academic category. own productive activities has insidiously of us who are actually working have a good all else a revolutionist” whose “mission in Unlike bourgeois thinkers who construct and increasingly become the exclusive idea of what needs to happen…A strong life was to contribute…to the overthrow fragmented pictures of social reality and preserve of the capitalist class. While campaign doesn’t need its workers gnaw- of capitalist society and [its] state institu- knowledge, Marx apprehends the world commodity production and exchange ing on [a fat stifling book like] ‘Capital,’ but tions…[and] to the liberation of the mod- not as a collection of preordained, discrete stifles workers’ control, it also fosters de- instead feasting on a serving of syndical- ern proletariat.” From a revised Preamble things but as a historically-specific totality humanization and enfeebles working-class ism and a deeelicious dish of direct action.” to the IWW Constitution, found in “The where everything is dialectically related. consciousness. Ferguson’s charges are catchy. But Autobiography of Big Bill Haywood,” we In so doing, he perceives not the relations Listen to the cultural critic Fredric they might be dutifully called into ques- read that “The working class and the em- of everything under the sun but rather Jameson, who uses the concepts of fe- tion. Why is Ferguson’s piece problematic? ploying class have nothing in common. an evolving global ensemble of exchange tishism and reification interchangeably Why do anti-capitalists such as Wobblies Between [them] a struggle must go on relations—international capital circulation to provide insight in his book “Post Mod- and Marx clash? Why is Marx still signifi- until the workers of the world organize and accumulation, uneven geographical ernism, Or, The Cultural Logic of Late cant today? as a class, take possession of the means developments, and the political media- Capitalism”: “The transformation of social Readers may be amused by Ferguson’s of production, abolish the wage system, tions greasing the affair—as a structured relations into things… suggests the… guilt remarks, but I wonder whether we should and live in harmony with the Earth…and yet contradictory social whole. If anyone people are freed from if they are [unable] want to know better than the legendary do away with capitalism.” Besides their bothers to notice, the globalized capitalist to remember the work that went into their Caspar Milquetoast, who believed whatev- shared rhetorical repudiation of capital- world we think we know today is uncan- toys and furnishings… For a society that er he read. Something must be noted, then, ism and mutual conviction that the pro- nily similar to the predatory capitalist wants to forget about class, reification…is about Marx’s supposed “rope” statement, letariat would be the primary revolution- world Marx sketches in “The Communist very functional indeed;…this…‘effacement’ which is a dubious factual statement prob- ary agent of historic change and worker Manifesto.” is surely the indispensable precondition ably not made by Marx. I do not presume emancipation from capitalist domination, For Marx, capitalism is not a thing; it is on which all the rest can be constructed.” the error implies the propensity to deceive; something else might be added: Wobblies a dynamic historical process of the produc- And as geographer David Harvey puts it in nevertheless, we might ponder Ferguson’s spurn political and parliamentary affilia- tion and reproduction of socio-ecological “The Condition of Postmodernity”: gist. Of course, we do not need Marx to tions, and (according to Eric Hobsbawm’s life through commodity production and “The conditions of labour and life… inform us about the experiential world “How to Change the World”), Marx himself exchange in which we are heavily impli- that lie behind the production of com- within our phenomenological reach, which (though he engaged in writing political cated. When Marx writes (in “Capital” modities, the status of mind of the produc- involves struggles between bosses and tracts, advising radical political party lead- Volume 1 of “Collected Works,” Volume ers, are all hidden to us as we exchange one workers. But if we truly seek revolution ers, entertaining state theory) neither be- 35) that “a commodity is a mysterious object (money) for another (the commod- against world capitalism, then Marx can longed to a political party nor believed the thing,” we should not shrug him aside. ity)…We cannot tell from contemplation of certainly inform us that whatever workers state represented more than the “executive I am inspired here not to discuss Marx’s any object in the supermarket what condi- experience directly on the shop floor itself committee of the ruling class.” complex analysis of the commodity as tions of labour lay behind its production. is not enough to comprehend the contra- So wherein lies the grand clash? The the embodiment of value, use value, and The concept of fetishism explains how… dictory processes of capital circulation and answer deserves a far more nuanced exchange value (except to note his analy- under conditions of capitalist modern- accumulation, commodity production and treatment than the simple yet suggestive sis is fundamental to a comprehension ization we can so objectively depend on exchange that pervade every corner of the sketch I can provide here. Clearly what dis- of class relations under world capitalism others’ lives and aspirations remain so globe and presently pump the petroleum tinguishes the two perspectives are their and world capitalism itself) but rather totally opaque to us. Marx’s meta-theory that enlivens the fabric of our daily lives. dissimilar strategies on the problem of the to underscore that the mysteriousness seeks to tear away that fetishistic mask and of commodity exchange derives from its to understand the social relations that lie The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC) is now sinister concealment of labor conditions behind it.” organizing prisoners for IWW membership and direct action. throughout the circuits of the capitalist None of what I have been arguing market system. should suggest I am discouraging a pro- We need your help. Marx explains the commodity’s mys- pensity for direct action or syndicalism, so Can you write letters to prisoners? Can you spread the news? Can you teriousness and suggests some ensuing long as pains are taken to avoid the sort of spare $10 for stamps and other campaign needs? implications: grossest of fetishisms foolishly undertaken “…because in it the social character of by the Luddites. As for Marx, he is both Please donate to IWOC directly through IWW GHQ, or through men’s labour appears to them as an objec- dead and alive, and his work, while it need https://fundly.com/iww-incarcerated-workers-organizing-committee, tive character stamped upon the product not be considered anything like dogma, and contact us via Facebook at of that labour; because the relation of the might be considered conceptually rich, https://www.facebook.com/incarceratedworkers. producers to the sum total of their own la- morally inspiring, and useful. So abandon bour is presented to them as a social rela- Marx—really? Page 12 • Industrial Worker • October 2014 Argentine Workers Occupy Factory the factory gates and set up roadblocks on the Pan-American Highway, close to where other protests were going on around the factory. According to Revolution News!, “After making $218 million in 2013 at a world level, the company presented a financial insolvency application in order to sack the entire workforce. Sharing Lessons With Comrades In The FAU The workers not only demonstrated By Levke Asyr Workers’ occupation. Photo: revolution-news.com that this company is not in crisis, The Freie Arbeiterin- By John Kalwaic but that it has also been carrying out nen- und Arbeiter-Union In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the illegal shameless maneuvers in order to empty (FAU) is an anarcho-syndi- closure of a graphics and printing factory the factory and divert production to other calist union in Germany, and by RR Donnelley left over 400 workers printing companies. Now it is engaging in a part of the International jobless. The workers of RR Donnelley re- a new maneuver by filing for a fraudulent Workers Association (IWA). sponded by launching a factory occupation bankruptcy in order to intimidate and Fellow Worker (FW) Chris on Aug. 12 and putting the plant back into threaten the workforce, with the aim of from Hamburg and I were production under workers’ control. Work- implementing its plan for mass lay-offs.” elected by the IWW’s Ger- ers called for a general assembly outside With files from Revolution News! man Language Area Mem- bership Regional Organizing Committee (GLAMROC) to Casino Dealers In Macau Take Action represent the IWW Interna- By John Kalwaic tional Solidarity Committee On Saturday, Aug. 30, approximately at the annual FAU confer- 1,000 casino dealers in the Chinese prov- ence held this past June in ince of Macau showed up late or refused The FAU Congress in July. Photo: FAU Germany. to work overtime at casinos owned by The FAU was founded in 1977 and litical factions and discussions. Especially SJM Holdings. The company is owned by has syndicates in almost every larger city interesting was the intense debate about family of former Macau king pin Stanley in Germany. The FAU follows the same leaving the IWA, which has tried to restrict Ho. Casino dealers refused to work over- principles of syndicalism and grassroots the FAU’s cooperation with other unions time because they were unhappy with democracy as the IWW, favoring direct over the last few years. Although the mo- their wages and benefits. According to the action and struggles for a future without tion failed in the end, the FAU members Japan Times, “Macau is the only place Dealers march. Photo: japantimes.co.jp wage labor. Due to this, the IWW and FAU decided to go on with their international in China where casino gambling is legal. compensate the workers three times their have in general a friendly relationship to work as they think it is necessary and to The special administrative region boasts salary. Since strikes are for the most part each other. For example, we have some take the risk of being excluded from the 35 casinos and relies on gaming taxes illegal in China, workers must sometimes dual-carders and this past July, members IWA. for more than 80 percent of government find ways like coming in late or refusing of the FAU supported the European Work Secondly, the FAU has internal struc- revenues.” overtime as a means of protesting wages People’s College with a workshop on their tures that work very well. Without going SJM Holdings promised that if the or working conditions. strike experiences in Dresden (see “Work into much detail, we were impressed not workers returned to work they would With files from the Japan Times. People’s College Europe: A Huge Success,” only by how well-attended the congress September 2014 IW, page 1). was, but also by the massive turnout in The FAU conference went for three referendum (every syndicate turned in Indian Workers Beat CEO To Death days and members from almost every FAU their votes). Also, in Berlin the FAU is By John Kalwaic him unconscious. Accord- branch attended. Besides us, there were particularly strong and has a relatively big In the city of Kolkata, ing to a report from the guests from the Confederación Nacional “foreigners section,” which tries to support in the West Bengal state Montreal Gazette, workers del Trabajo (CNT) of Spain, the Sveriges foreign workers by giving advice on work of eastern India, an angry then stormed Maheswari’s Arbetares Centralorganisation (SAC) from and social rights. mob of 200 workers beat a office and beat him with Sweden, Confédération nationale du tra- Third, in general the FAU looks for CEO to death with iron rods iron rods. He later died of vail France (CNT-F), the Unione Sindacale closer cooperation with the IWW—both and stones at the North his injuries. Chief Minister Italiana (USI) from Italy and an anarcho- at an international level, but especially Brook Jute Mill in June. Mamata Banerjee blamed syndicalist initiative from Croatia. We with the GLAMROC section there is great The dispute came after the the murder on unions and were welcomed warmly by everyone and interest in the IWW Organizer Trainings, CEO, H.K. Maheswari de- opposition parties even all international guests did not have to pay in the work of our Anti-Patriarchy Com- nied the workers’ demands though they denied respon- for food or accommodation. mittee, and in the coordination of working to work and receive wages sibility for the attack. The I would like to mention three things we together, and learning from each other for a 40-hour work week IWW does not condone this found remarkable about this congress and regarding organizing in specific sectors instead of the normal 25 CEO killed Photo: indiatimes.com type of violence; however, the work of the FAU in general: (health care being one of them). At least hours per week. The CEO by workers. it is important to keep in First, all guests were allowed to attend FW Chris and I think cooperation would in also proposed closing the mind the terrible conditions all meetings, the workshop and the final fact be fruitful, especially in learning more jute mill three days a week to curb finan- workers live with in this part of the world referendum (decisions affecting the FAU about the FAU’s well-working inner struc- cial losses. in order to understand what leads these as a whole are made once a year during tures. At the writing of this article, two Angry mill workers threw stones at workers to this course of action. The West the congress). This form of transparency IWW members from GLAMROC planned Maheswari’s office. When the startled Bengal state of India has a lot of violence gave us deep insight not only into internal on attending the next regional conference CEO looked out the window to investi- by and against unions. structures of the FAU but also into the po- of the FAU as well! gate and two stones struck him, knocking With files from the Montreal Gazette. Solidarity With The Prisoners Union, Tegel! French Railway Workers Clash With Police many austerity measures on the French people. His government has intervened against the strikers, and Hollande has condemned the strike. The striking rail workers clashed with police on June 17 as the strike rolled on to its second week. Police used tear gas against demonstrators as striking workers blocked traffic and threw bottles Train workers and police clash. Photo: presstv.ir at police. The railway strike ended when By John Kalwaic the French parliament voted to amend In June, the French government the reform bill that started the dispute, decided on a reform bill to privatize its though many strikers remained divided rail system, a move which would result as to whether to continue the strike de- in hundreds of workers being laid off. spite this concession. Parliament amend- Rail workers’ unions came out in fierce ed the bill to provide job protections for opposition and decided to strike on June workers and to give travel cardholders 10. The mainstream media reported that 10 days of free travel in compensation IWW members show solidarity outside Tegel prison. Photo: Monika Vykoukal the French public was against the strike; for the strike. The leadership of the main By Monika Vykoukal incarcerated fellow worker Oliver Rast. possibly in an effort to turn people against union, Confédération générale du travail At the close of Work People’s College The prisoners union needs solidar- the strike which affected many railway (CGT), voted to end the strike, while Europe this past summer, fellow workers ity now. commuters across the country. French the more radical Solidaires Unitaires showed solidarity outside Tegel prison in Write to the speakers of the prison- President François Hollande reversed Démocratiques (SUD) wanted it to con- Berlin with the Gefangenen-Gewerkschaft ers union: many of his previous promises to end tinue in order to press for eliminating the der JVA Tegel (prisoners union of the Speaker: Oliver Rast, Deputy: Attila- cuts to public infrastructure projects privatization bill entirely. JVA Tegel prison), founded there at the Aziz Genc, Seidelstr. 39, 13507 Berlin, and welfare benefits. Hollande is backing With files from The Daily Telegraph, end of May with the involvement of our Germany. down from those promises and placing Press TV and http://www.english.rfi.fr.