Official newspaper oF The Industrial Workers of the World

INDUSTRIALOctober 2013 #1759 Vol. 110 No. 8 $2/ £2/ €2 WORKER

One Year Of Wobbly IWW Organizer FW Frank Little Solidarity With Organizing In Indiana Training In Uganda A Commemorated in Garment Workers In 3 Success! 5 Montana 7 Bangladesh 12 Striking Workers At Insomnia Cookies Join The IWW By Jake Carman were supposed to keep delivery time At midnight on Sunday, Aug. 18, the as fast as possible, which encouraged night shift at the Harvard Square Insom- unsafe riding.” nia Cookies in Boston voted unanimously Peak hours are late at night when to launch a strike for higher wages, health- college students are returning from care and freedom to build a union. On parties. As the lines of customers Tuesday, Aug. 20, all four strikers joined thickened on the evening of Saturday, the IWW and initiated a public campaign Aug. 17, Chris Helali noticed his co- to achieve their goals. workers were stressed. “I gauged the Insomnia Cookies, with 30 locations overall feeling that night and people in the United States, caters to college were pretty down. I basically said, ‘guys students and runs late night deliveries of let’s go on strike.’ It took about an hour warm cookies and milk to dorm rooms. to get everyone to agree and to figure Still delivering cookies until 2:45 a.m., out what we were going to do.” The Insomnia workers who double-duty as entire night shift of four workers: Chris bakers and cashiers receive only $9 per Helali, Jonathan Peña, Niko Stapczyn- hour. “Drivers,” who are expected to de- ski, and Luke Robinson, used the store liver cookies by bicycle within a half hour, computer to type up a strike agree- receive only $5 per hour plus tips. Nei- ment, and made signs for the store’s ther bakers/cashiers nor drivers receive windows. Then, Helali continued, “We healthcare, and at a job where turnover told the customers we were going on is so high, the typical employee lasts only strike. Some of the customers asked, a month. As Niko Stapczynski, a striking ‘Can we at least get a cookie before driver at Insomnia told the Industrial you close down the store?’ So we said, Worker, “I was being paid below mini- ‘Sure, why not.’ We served everyone in mum wage. We had no breaks because the store. Then we went outside to put we were understaffed. Sometimes we’d up the signs and lock the door.” work without breaks until 3:15 a.m. We Continued on 6 Insomnia workers walk the picket line on Aug. 29 Photo: FW Le Le LeChat Reports, Discussion Abound At The 2013 IWW General Convention gave the attendees a chance to get to know each other before getting to work on union business the fol- lowing days. The billets were sent in advance and, as was the case for me, if your flight got canceled, the local organizers were able to roll with the punches and accommodate you without problems. The lodging was coordinated efficiently and provided by local members that were genu- inely hospitable. Saturday morning started with the credentials verification to ensure that all of the delegates were eligible to perform their duty. All delegates were given a free copy of the new book published by Recomposition Blog, “Lines of Work: Stories of Jobs and Resistance,” as part of its IWW members from across North America and Europe gather in Edmonton for the 2013 General Convention. Photo: DJ Alperovitz official launch. The whole day was By Mathieu Dube dedicated to reports from the union’s Industrial Worker This year my fellow workers of the officers and standing committees. Our Periodicals Postage PO Box 180195 Pittsburgh General Membership Branch General Secretary-Treasurer (GST), FW PAID (GMB) entrusted me to be their delegate Sam Green, ended his mandate by provid- Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL to the 2013 IWW General Convention that ing us with enlightening comments on the and additional was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada challenges that the union is facing accord- mailing offices ISSN 0019-8870 on Labor Day weekend, Friday, Aug. 30 - ing to him. Of these, I would mention the ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Sunday, Sept. 1. I will share my experience difficulty that our current structures have of the proceedings in the following lines. in dealing with our international growth. I chose to focus on what displayed, in my Indeed, and it is a good problem to have: opinion, the most interest for the union from a membership largely based in North membership. I apologize for the voluntary America, our union has grown quite a bit omissions. Europe at the turn of the century. This The first thing that stood out was how poses a few challenges, for instance, that well the Edmonton branch took care of General Headquarters (GHQ) acts as the the logistics. The transportation was slick de facto General Administration for the to the Friday “meet-and-greet” that took whole union but also as the specific admin- place in the same building that the conven- istration for members in the United States. tion would be held the following days, the The report of the Organizational Training Queen Mary Park Community League Hall Committee (OTC) was very impressive. located in a park. There were literature and This committee is in the process of for- swag tables offering an extensive selec- malizing the curriculum of the Organizer tion of political books. Beer and alcohol Training. The trainers will also be trained, were sold as part of a benefit. This event Continued on 6 Page 2 • Industrial Worker • October 2013 Transition To Digital IW The SEIU Negotiates Sub-Standard Contracts, As Default: October 1, 2013 Poorly Represents Members At Illinois Local The default format for the Industrial Dear Editor, L73’s Springfield office and the announce- Worker is moving to an electronic PDF On or about Monday, June 17, the ment was quickly made that the agreement version and members will no longer be Service Employees International Union had been approved, but the vote count automatically subscribed to receive paper (SEIU) Local 73 (L73) began balloting for wasn’t released. Letters Welcome! copies of the IW in the mail, beginning Oc- a tentative agreement at the bargaining L73 “represents” the lowest paid tober 1, 2013. The default form of distribu- unit’s largest concentration of workers, workers at the lowest paid state agency Send your letters to: [email protected] with tion will instead be through email, unless the Illinois Secretary of State’s Howlett in Illinois. The SEIU has a reputation for “Letter” in the subject. otherwise specified. If members wish to Building. Very few workers were notified “negotiating” sub-standard contracts and Mailing Address: receive print copies of the IW, please send and most of the workers who did not vote this episode did nothing to improve that Industrial Worker, P.O. Box 180195, an email to [email protected] or [email protected] found out by word of mouth. The polling situation. Chicago, IL 60618, United States. with the subject “Opt-in to Print IW,” or place was located in a lightly traveled por- In Solidarity, In November We Remember call GHQ at (773) 728-0996 and request tion of the building. When questioned, Bob Zoch a print subscription. L73 responded that the boss was Send in your announcements for the If you have an existing paid subscrip- supposed to notify the workers. annual “In November We Remember” tion, you will continue to receive the IW The contract is a good one for issue of the Industrial Worker by in print. the boss, and the boss knew few if Friday, October 4, 2013. Celebrate the Note that ALL members are allowed any “yes” votes would come from the lives of those who have struggled for to request paper copies and branches that Howlett Building. The boss had no the working class with your message of have bundle requests will still have those incentive to notify the workers of the solidarity. Send announcements to iw@ requirements be honored. tentative agreement. The prevailing iww.org. Much appreciated donations Check out, share and download digital sentiment was that the agreement for the following sizes should be sent to: copies of the Industrial Worker: http:// would have been voted down and IWW GHQ, P.O. Box 180195, www.scribd.com/IndustrialWorker. L73 would have then imposed the Chicago, IL 60618, United States. Remember, every paper IW costs the contract on the workers anyway. $12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide union a significant amount of time and On or about Friday, June 28, $40 for 4” by 2 columns money. Go paperless, live in harmony with the unsecured ballots from over 100 $90 for a quarter page the earth and help save the union money! statewide work sites were gathered at Graphic: Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Africa Wales: [email protected] Florida New York Industrial Unionism Uganda British Isles Gainesville GMB: c/o Civic Media Center, 433 S. Main St., New York City GMB: 45-02 23rd Street, Suite #2, Long 32601. Robbie Czopek, del., 904-315-5292, gainesvil- Island City,11101. [email protected]. www.wobblycity. IWW Kabale Uganda: Justus Tukwasibwe Weij- Health Workers IU 610: [email protected] [email protected], www.gainesvilleiww.org org Organization agye, P.O. Box 217, Kabale , Uganda, East Africa. Pizza Hut Workers IU 640: [email protected] jkweijagye[at]yahoo.com Miami IWW: [email protected] Starbucks Campaign: iwwstarbucksunion@gmail. Education Sheffield Education Workers: [email protected] Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455-6608. com, www.starbucksunion.org Australia London Bus Drivers: [email protected] 772-545-9591, [email protected] New South Wales Hudson Valley GMB: P.O. Box 48, Huguenot 12746, 845- Emancipation London Cleaners: [email protected] Pensacola GMB: P.O. Box 2662, Pensacola 32513-2662. 342-3405, [email protected], http://hviww.blogspot. Sydney GMB: [email protected]. Laura, del., Bradford GMB: [email protected] 840-437-1323, [email protected], www. com/ Official newspaper of the [email protected]. angelfire.com/fl5/iww Syracuse IWW: [email protected] Newcastle: [email protected] Bristol GMB: [email protected] Leeds GMB: [email protected] Georgia Upstate NY GMB: P.O. Box 235, Albany 12201-0235, Industrial Workers Woolongong: [email protected] Atlanta GMB: 542 Moreland Avenue, Southeast Atlanta, 518-833-6853 or 518-861-5627. www.upstate-nyiww. Lismore: [email protected] London GMB: [email protected] 30316. 404-693-4728 org, [email protected], Rochelle Semel, of the World del., P.O. Box 172, Fly Creek 13337, 607-293-6489, Queensland Manchester GMB: [email protected] Hawaii Post Office Box 180195 Nottingham: [email protected] [email protected] Brisbane: P.O. Box 5842, West End, Qld 4101. iww- Honolulu: Tony Donnes, del., [email protected] Utica IWW: Brendan Maslauskas Dunn, del., 315-240- Chicago, IL 60618 USA [email protected]. Asger, del., happyanarchy@riseup. Reading GMB: [email protected] Idaho 3149. [email protected] 773.728.0996 • [email protected] net Sheffield GMB: [email protected] Boise: Ritchie Eppink, del., P.O. Box 453, 83701. 208-371- North Carolina South Australia Sussex GMB: [email protected] 9752, [email protected] Carolina Mountains GMB: P.O. Box 1005, 28802. 828- www.iww.org Adelaide: [email protected], www.wobbliesSA. West Midlands GMB: [email protected] Illinois 407-1979. [email protected] org. Jesse, del., 0432 130 082 York GMB: [email protected] Chicago GMB: P.O. Box 57114, 60657. 312-638-9155. Greensboro GMB: P. O. Box 5022, 27435. 1-855-IWW-4- Victoria [email protected] General Secretary-Treasurer: Scotland GSO (855-499-4476). [email protected] Melbourne: P.O. Box 145, Moreland, VIC 3058. mel- Freight Truckers Hotline: [email protected] North Dakota Sam Green [email protected], www.iwwmelbourne. Clydeside GMB: [email protected] Dumfries and Galloway GMB: [email protected] Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. wordpress.com. Loki, del., lachlan.campbell.type@ Indiana com gmail.com Edinburgh GMB: [email protected] eneral xecutive oard Indiana GMB: 219-308-8634. [email protected]. Ohio G E B : Geelong: [email protected] Belgium Facebook: Indiana IWW Mid-Ohio GMB: c/o Riffe, 4071 Indianola Ave., Columbus Monika Vykoukal, Katie Jennings, Western Australia Floris De Rycker, Sint-Bavoplein 7, 2530 Boechout, Celestial Panther Publishing IU 450 Job Shop: 317-420- 43214. [email protected] Perth GMB: P.O. Box 1, Cannington WA 6987. perthwob- Belgium. [email protected] 1025. [email protected]. http://celestial- DJ Alperovitz, John Slavin, panther.me Northeast Ohio GMB: P.O. Box 141072, Cleveland 44114. [email protected]. Bruce, del.,coronation78@hotmail. German Language Area 216-502-5325 Dave Pike, Meg Beyer, com Iowa IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing Eastern Iowa IWW: 319-333-2476. EasternIowaIWW@ Ohio Valley GMB: P.O. Box 6042, Cincinnati 45206, 513- Montigue Magruder Canada Committee (GLAMROC): IWW, Haberweg 19, 61352 Bad 510-1486, [email protected] IWW Canadian Regional Organizing Committee (CAN- Homburg, Germany. [email protected]. www. gmail.com ROC): [email protected] wobblies.de Kansas Sweet Patches Screenprinting IU 410 Job Shop: Greater Kansas City/Lawrence GMB: 816-875-6060. [email protected] Editor & Graphic Designer : Alberta Austria: [email protected], [email protected]. Oklahoma Edmonton GMB: P.O. Box 75175, T6E 6K1. edmon- www.iwwaustria.wordpress.com. [email protected] Diane Krauthamer [email protected], edmonton.iww.ca. Gabriel Cardenas, Berlin: Offenes Treffen jeden 2.Montag im Monat im Cafe Wichita: Naythan Smith, del., 316-633-0591. Tulsa: P.O. Box 213, Medicine Park 73557, 580-529-3360 [email protected] del., 780-990-9081, [email protected] Commune, Reichenberger Str.157, 10999 Berlin, 18 Uhr. [email protected] Oregon British Columbia (U-Bahnhof Kottbusser Tor). Postadresse: IWW Berlin, c/o Louisiana Lane GMB: Ed Gunderson, del., 541-743-5681. x355153@ Rotes Antiquariat, Rungestr. 20, 10179 Berlin, Germany. iww.org, www.eugeneiww.org Vancouver GMB: 204-2274 York Ave., V6K 1C6. [email protected]. Louisiana IWW: John Mark Crowder, del.,126 Kelly Lane, Proofreaders : 604-732-9613. [email protected]. www. Homer, 71040. 318-224-1472. [email protected] Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., 97214, 503-231- vancouveriww.com Bremen: [email protected]. iwwbremen. 5488. [email protected], pdx.iww.org blogsport.de Maine Maria Rodriguez Gil, Tom Levy, Vancouver Island GMB: Box 297 St. A, Nanaimo BC, V9R Portland Red and Black Cafe: 400 SE 12th Ave, 97214. Scotty Hertz, Tony B., Eric Wind, 5K9. [email protected]. http://vanislewobs.wordpress. Cologne/Koeln GMB: c/o Allerweltshaus, Koernerstr. Maine IWW: 206-350-9130. [email protected], www. 503-231-3899. [email protected]. www. com 77-79, 50823 Koeln, Germany. [email protected]. southernmaineiww.org redandblackcafe.com Jacob Brent, Mathieu Dube, Manitoba www.iwwcologne.wordpress.com Maryland Pennsylvania Frankfurt - Eurest: IWW Betriebsgruppe Eurest Baltimore GMB: P.O. Box 33350, 21218. baltimoreiww@ Jonathan D. Beasley, D. Keenan, Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, P.O. Box 1, R3C 2G1. gmail.com Lancaster IWW: P.O. Box 352, 17608. 717-559-0797. Haberweg 19 D- 61352 Bad Homburg. harald.stubbe@ [email protected] Neil Parthun, Skylaar Amann, [email protected] yahoo.de. Massachusetts New Brunswick Lehigh Valley GMB: P.O. Box 1477, Allentown, 18105- Chris Heffner, Billy O’Connor, Fredericton: [email protected], Hamburg-Waterkant: [email protected] Boston Area GMB: P.O. Box 391724, Cambridge, 02139. 1477. 484-275-0873. [email protected]. frederictoniww.wordpress.com Kassel: [email protected]. www.wobblies-kassel. 617-863-7920, [email protected], www.IW- www. facebook.com/lehighvalleyiww de WBoston.org David Patrick, Joel Gosse, Ontario Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: 610-358-9496. pa- Munich: [email protected] Cape Cod/SE Massachusetts: [email protected] Zachary Snowdon Smith Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: 1106 Wellington [email protected], www.papercranepress.com St., P.O. Box 36042, Ottawa, K1Y 4V3. [email protected], Rostock: [email protected]. iww-rostock.net Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, P.O. Pittsburgh GMB: P.O. Box 5912,15210. 412-894-0558. [email protected] Switzerland: [email protected] Box 1581, Northampton, 01061 [email protected] Printer: Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Karen Crossman, spokesper- Iceland: Jamie McQuilkin,del.,Stangarholti 26 Reykjavik Michigan Rhode Island Globe Direct/Boston Globe Media son, 613-282-7968, [email protected] 105. +354 7825894. [email protected] Detroit GMB: 4210 Trumbull Blvd., 48208. detroit@ Providence GMB: P.O. Box 5795, 02903. 508-367-6434. Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, Lithuania: [email protected] iww.org. [email protected] Millbury, MA 705-749-9694. Sean Carleton, del., 705-775-0663, Grand Rapids GMB: P.O. Box 6629, 49516. 616-881-5263. Tennessee [email protected] Netherlands: [email protected] [email protected] Norway IWW: 004793656014. [email protected]. Mid-Tennessee IWW: Lara Jennings, del., 106 N. 3rd St., Toronto GMB: c/o Libra Knowledge & Information Svcs http://www.iwwnorge.org, www.facebook.com/iw- Grand Rapids Bartertown Diner and Roc’s Cakes: 6 Clarksville, 37040. 931-206-3656. Jonathan Beasley, Co-op, P.O. Box 353 Stn. A, M5W 1C2. 416-919-7392. iw- Jefferson St., 49503. [email protected], www. del., 2002 Post Rd., Clarksville, 37043 931-220-9665. Next deadline is [email protected]. Max Bang, del., nowitstime610@ wnorge. Twitter: @IWWnorge bartertowngr.com October 4, 2013 gmail.com United States Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason 48854. Texas Windsor GMB: c/o WWAC, 328 Pelissier St., N9A 4K7. Alaska 517-676-9446, [email protected] El Paso IWW: Sarah Michelson, del., 314-600-2762. (519) 564-8036. [email protected]. http:// Fairbanks GMB: P. O. Box 80101, 99708. Chris White, del., Minnesota [email protected] U.S. IW mailing address: windsoriww.wordpress.com 907-457-2543, [email protected]. Red River GMB: [email protected], redriveriww@gmail. Golden Triangle IWW (Beaumont - Port Arthur): gt- IW, Post Office Box 180195, Québec Arizona com [email protected] Montreal GMB: cp 60124, Montréal, QC, H2J 4E1. 514- Phoenix GMB: P.O. Box 7126, 85011-7126. 623-336- Twin Cities GMB: 3019 Minnehaha Ave. South, Suite 50, South Texas IWW: [email protected] Chicago, IL 60618, United 268-3394. [email protected] 1062. [email protected] Minneapolis 55406. [email protected] Utah States Europe Flagstaff IWW: 206-327-4158, [email protected] Duluth IWW: P.O. Box 3232, 55803. iwwduluth@riseup. Salt Lake City GMB: P.O. Box 1227, 84110. 801-871- European Regional Administration (ERA): P.O. Box 7593 Arkansas net 9057. [email protected] ISSN 0019-8870 Glasgow, G42 2EX. www.iww.org.uk Fayetteville: P.O. Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859. Missouri Vermont Periodicals postage ERA Officers, Departments, Committees [email protected] Greater Kansas City IWW: P.O. Box 414304, Kansas City Burlington GMB: P.O. Box 8005, 05402. 802-540-2541 Access Facilitator (disabilities issues): [email protected] 64141-4304. 816.875.6060. [email protected] Virginia paid Chicago, IL. California Communications Officer / Comms Dept Chair: communi- Los Angeles GMB: (323) 374-3499. iwwgmbla@gmail. St. Louis IWW: P.O. Box 63142, 63163. stlwobbly@gmail. Richmond IWW: P.O. Box 7055, 23221. 804-496-1568. [email protected] com com [email protected], www.richmondiww.org Montana Postmaster: Send address GLAMROC Liaison: [email protected] North Coast GMB: P.O. Box 844, Eureka 95502-0844. Washington 707-725-8090, [email protected] Construction Workers IU 330: Dennis Georg, del., 406- Bellingham: P.O. Box 1793, 98227. 360-920-6240. Internal Bulletin: [email protected] 490-3869, [email protected] changes to IW, Post Office Box International Solidarity Committee: international@iww. Sacramento IWW: P.O. Box 2445, 95812-2445. 916-825- [email protected]. 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA org.uk 0873, [email protected] Billings: Jim Del Duca, 106 Paisley Court, Apt. I, Bozeman Tacoma GMB: P.O. Box 7276, 98401. [email protected]. 59715. 406-860-0331. [email protected] http://tacoma.iww.org/ Literature Committee: [email protected] San Diego IWW: 619-630-5537, [email protected] Nebraska Membership Administrator: [email protected] San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buyback IU Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. 206-339- SUBSCRIPTIONS 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain Fabrics Job Shop Nebraska GMB: P.O. Box 27811, Ralston, 68127. nebras- 4179. [email protected]. www.seattleiww.org Merchandise Committee: [email protected] and IU 410 Garment and Textile Worker’s Industrial [email protected]. www.nebraskaiww.org Wisconsin Individual Subscriptions: $18 Organising and Bargaining Support Department: Organizing Committee; Shattuck Cinemas; Embarcadero Nevada Madison GMB: P.O. Box 2442, 53701-2442. www. International Subscriptions: $30 [email protected] Cinemas) P.O. Box 11412, Berkeley, 94712. 510-845- Reno GMB: P.O. Box 12173, 89510. Paul Lenart, del., madison.iww.org 0540. [email protected] Library/Institution Subs: $30/year Research and Survey Department: [email protected] 775-513-7523, [email protected] IUB 560 - Communications and Computer Workers: P.O. / [email protected] IU 520 Marine Transport Workers: Steve Ongerth, del., Union dues includes subscription. IU 520 Railroad Workers: Ron Kaminkow, del., P.O. Box Box 259279, Madison 53725. 608-620-IWW1. Madiso- National Secretary: [email protected] [email protected] 2131, Reno, 89505. 608-358-5771. ronkaminkow@ [email protected]. www.Madisoniub560.iww.org Support for people having trouble with GoCardless Evergreen Printing: 2412 Palmetto Street, Oakland yahoo.com Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson, Published monthly with the excep- signup: [email protected] 94602. 510-482-4547. [email protected] New Hampshire 53703. 608-255-1800. Jerry Chernow, del., jerry@ tion of February and August. IT Committee (all IT related enquiries): [email protected] San Jose: [email protected], www.facebook. New Hampshire IWW: Paul Broch, del.,112 Middle St. #5, lakesidepress.org. www.lakesidepress.org Training Department: [email protected] com/SJSV.IWW Manchester 03101. 603-867-3680 . SevenSixTwoRevolu- Madison Infoshop Job Shop:1019 Williamson St. #B, National Treasurer: [email protected] Colorado [email protected] 53703. 608-262-9036 Articles not so designated do Denver GMB: 2727 West 27th Ave., Unit D, 80211. 303- Just Coffee Job Shop IU 460: 1129 E. Wilson, Madison, Regional Organisers 355-2032. [email protected] New Jersey 53703. 608-204-9011, justcoffee.coop not reflect the IWW’s Central England RO: [email protected] Central New Jersey GMB: P.O. Box 10021, New Brunswick, Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): 970-903-8721, 4corners@ 08906. 732-692-3491. [email protected]. Bob Railroad Workers IU 520: 608-358-5771. railfalcon@ official position. Central Scotland RO: [email protected]. uk iww.org Ratynski, del., 908-285-5426. www.newjerseyiww.org yahoo.com Northern England RO: [email protected] DC New Mexico Milwaukee GMB: 1750A N Astor St., 53207. Trevor Press Date: September 23, 2013 Southern England RO: [email protected] DC GMB (Washington): 1027 18th St. NE #2, Washington, Albuquerque GMB: P.O. Box 4892, 87196-4892. 505-569- Smith, 414-573-4992 Southeast England RO: [email protected] DC 20002. 202-630-9620. [email protected] 0168, [email protected] Northwoods IWW: P.O. Box 452, Stevens Point, 54481 October 2013 • Industrial Worker • Page 3 Wobbly Perspective One Year Of Organizing In Indiana By Michael White Indiana Model,” none of these ideas are built a really great In early October 2012, Hope Asya unique to us—we just put together the kind network of radicals and I toured several cities and towns in of program that works for us in Indiana and labor activists Indiana, having call-out meetings along under our current conditions. One thing within major cities the way for interested people to hear about that distinguishes the Indiana branch from and college cam- and discuss the IWW. There were sev- others is that at a GMB meeting we devote puses. eral well-attended meetings throughout a set period of time to an open discussion Maintaining a week-long road trip, after which a surge on a topic that has been previously agreed connections and of people joined the IWW throughout the upon. We have monthly GMB meetings contact, as well as state. The following month we held our in Indianapolis, but between these, each avoiding decline, first all-state meeting to discuss moving separate locale has a meeting. Some of is one of the most to form a General Membership Branch these localized meetings that we call Gen- crucial elements (GMB). We continued to meet monthly, eral Organizing Committees, or Councils keeping our branch and by late February 2013, our petition to (GOCs), happen fairly frequent, while oth- strong. Although be chartered was approved and our GMB ers occur less often. These GOCs meet with setting up secure has met every month since. An article the membership of the GMB from that and reliable means was published on page 1 of the December area, discussing organizing campaigns, of communicating is 2012 IW, titled “Wobbly Tour of Indiana,” events, actions, etc., and help to organize important, making detailing the event. The Wobbly Tour, as it the GMB throughout the state. The GOC sure that we con- Wobs at the Indiana University strike in April. Photo: Indiana IWW has come to be known by, has kick-started meetings cannot vote on official Indiana tinue to use them and use them correctly cycle. The Indiana GMB has been able our organizing efforts here in Indiana and GMB policy, but function as a solidarity- is difficult. It is important to set up events to grow, agitate, educate and organize. led us to form the GMB and continue our building meeting place where workers and meetings in advance and with good Workers recognize that the IWW is the activities. As I write now, it is late August can express themselves and move forward publicity. Using social networking sites best rank-and-file, democratically-run, 2013, and throughout this year of organiz- with organizing efforts in their area with helps to reach more people each day, and radical union that will fight for them. The ing in Indiana, our branch has experienced the help of their local Wobs. Delegates in if used correctly, can continue to bring major differences between the IWW and quite a lot of activity. We have been active each area help to organize the GOCs, but new possible members out to meetings. other unions that we are taught upon en- in on-the-job direct action and organizing, they follow the order of business and rotate Holding call-out meetings for interested tering the union are all the reasons why participated in strikes and campaigns, meeting officers to help people get used workers and students is helpful; many the IWW’s structure and ethos are able grown to a sizable and cohesive branch, to the meeting structure. This helps to get times people will feel more comfortable to trump “right-to-work” legislation—our and overcome several major hurdles as we more people active, especially new mem- with their first exposure to the IWW if they voluntary dues system, rank-and-file have connected radicals and labor activists bers, and also helps to increase retention can discuss its philosophies, history, and control, every member being an active throughout the state. of membership. We currently have three how it intends to organize workers against organizer, the practice of organizing not Several members within our GMB are GOCs set up and are working to set up a exploitation and wage slavery. only the job but also the worker, and the actively trying to salt on the job, agitating fourth in the fall. The GOCs host regular Indiana, being a “right-to-work” state, crown jewel that makes it all possible, and educating at their workplace, and discussions and also guest presentations poses many problems for traditional craft industrial unionism. We currently have making some promising gains. Since we by fellow workers and students in certain and trade unions and other business dual-card carrying members from all the began meeting, we have had fellow work- fields (i.e. permaculture, labor history, unions. And of course these laws impact major unions active in Indiana. They work ers actively pushing solidarity unionism combating patriarchy, Marxist economic the organizing of any labor, but the IWW with us and within their other unions to on the job and using direct action to gain theory, etc.). has many advantages in this system be- push for more rank-and-file control and improvements in working conditions. We Indiana GMB members have had op- cause of its solidarity union model, direct to further radicalize their unions. have had a few Organizer Trainings in portunities to participate in a few strike action tactics, and its general disregard Given the situation in Indiana, I think Indiana and are looking to have more in campaigns already. We have been active for capitalist legislature aimed at killing it’s important to remember that struggling the future. We are also looking to have sev- in tabling and demonstrations. We have organized labor. Business unions are busy to improve working conditions to receive eral members attend a Training for Train- worked and set up the first Wobbly job paying large sums of money to the dizzy more of the wealth we create, and gaining ers. We currently have eight delegates shop in Indiana. Actively organizing in and confused Indiana Democrats because more control over our workplaces and throughout the state and have developed the workplace and helping fellow workers the Republicans in this state are forcing lives, is only the first step in effectively and a few ways of organizing an all-state GMB. throughout the state when they need sup- so much anti-labor legislation through permanently changing the world we live in. Although some have joked about “The port and solidarity, the Indiana GMB has Congress; it’s a vicious yet enlightening We have built a strong and reliable group of members in our branch, but we need IWW Constitution Preamble Join the IWW Today to continue to build, grow, and organize. The working class and the employing Struggling to alter our material conditions he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the class have nothing in common. There can and liberating ourselves is a very difficult job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions be no peace so long as hunger and want and long road. We shouldn’t be fooled or today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and are found among millions of working T lose sight by cheap and shortsighted ideas distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire people and the few, who make up the em- of little substance. 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 ­– 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 Subscribe to the organize as a class, take possession of the workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a Industrial Worker system, and live in harmony with the truly international union movement in order to confront the global power of the earth. bosses and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fel- We find that the centering of the low workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. management of industries into fewer and We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have fewer hands makes the trade unions un- representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- able to cope with the ever-growing power nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition of the employing class. The trade unions but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes foster a state of affairs which allows one this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the same industry, an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. thereby helping defeat one another in Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions workplace, or across an industry. aid the employing class to mislead the Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what is- workers into the belief that the working sues to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. Educate yourself and your class have interests in common with their fellow workers with the official employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation newspaper of the IWW. These conditions can be changed and and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 180195, Chicago, IL the interest of the working class upheld 60618, USA. Just mail in this form, only by an organization formed in such Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated or visit us online at: a way that all its members in any one according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues http://store.iww.org/industrial-worker.html industry, or all industries if necessary, are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, to subscribe today! cease work whenever a strike or lockout is dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues on in any department thereof, thus mak- are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional 10 issues for: ing an injury to one an injury to all. Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). • US $18 for individuals. Instead of the conservative motto, “A • US $30 for institutions. 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. • US $30 for internationals. must inscribe on our banner the revolu- __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. system.” Name: ______It is the historic mission of the work- Name:______ing class to do away with capitalism. The Address:______Address:______army of production must be organized, City, State, Post Code, Country:______State/Province:______not only for the everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on produc- Occupation:______Zip/PC______tion when capitalism shall have been Phone:______Email:______Send to: PO Box 180195, overthrown. By organizing industrially Chicago IL 60618 USA Amount Enclosed:______we are forming the structure of the new Subscribe Today! society within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker. Page 4 • Industrial Worker • October 2013 Shotgun Organizing By John O’Reilly & Juan Conatz privately, the shotgun organizer turns the About a year or so ago, one of us was dynamic from being about one problem having a one-on-one conversation with worker to two people yelling at each other. a member of the union involved in a Most co-workers are going to back away campaign that was not public at the time. from that. Nobody wants to choose be- When the discussion switched to one of tween two people yelling. Our co-workers the more active committee members, the who back away from the conflict are, by fellow worker said, “You know, I love and default, choosing against the union and respect him, but every problem we en- doing exactly what the anti-union worker counter he wants to shoot down with a 12 would have wanted. Sometimes the right gauge.” This gets to an issue we sometimes way to deal with the problem might be have that we will call “shotgun organizing.” just confronting the anti-union worker. The “shotgun organizer” thinks that By doing it as one individual instead of as every problem needs to be solved in the a group, the focus of the controversy is on most intense and forceful way possible, the shotgun organizer and their yelling, regardless of whether or not it can be not on the content of the union message. handled differently or of the effects on the The change we seek doesn’t happen committee. If things are bad, they need to because of individuals. That’s a com- be blasted away. For the shotgun organiz- mon, yet mistaken, vision of history and er, the union is amazing and the boss is evil one that shotgun organizers often see as and anyone who disagrees is a reactionary. justifying their behavior. For every “Big The shotgun organizer takes a blunt, no- Bill” Haywood or Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, holds-barred approach to union activity, there are numerous Henry E. McGuckin’s. and has no room for nuance or collective For every Durruti, there are hundreds of decision-making. Getting in fights about lesser-known Confederación Nacional del the union, badgering co-workers who Trabajo (CNT) militants. Struggle is a col- are on the fence, being the first person to lective process that doesn’t solely depend stand up to management over grievances, on the initiative of individuals willing and the shotgun organizer knows what they able to approach every situation as if it was think and makes sure that everyone else a full-scale battle. We may remember the does too. It can be good to have folks like names of the “famous” revolutionaries, but this on your side. The willingness to “go to we do so because of the quiet, day-to-day war,” to stand up for people, and be a voice work of many around them who are lost for no compromise is an excellent quality. to history. Organizing at work is no dif- However, it often can be destructive and ferent. Rather than be One Big Organizer alienating. who does everything by themselves, we One of the most difficult parts of strive to build up others as organizers. We organizing is dealing with the problems do this by sharing work and responsibility we encounter with the right response for and encouraging other people to express the right problem. Sometimes we make their opinions. When we do this we see honest mistakes, misjudging the size or that all organizing work need not be done importance of a problem or minimizing by one person and that the intensity need something that should be taken more seri- not be “turned all the way up” all the time. ously. Part of becoming better organizers Change at work and in society has high is recognizing that we simply will make and low points of intensity, but it oper- mistakes no matter how prepared we are, ates most effectively when that intensity and anticipating how to come back from is brought on by a group, not a lone wolf them. Shotgun organizing is a common wielding a big shotgun. style of dealing with problems that come Like anything else humans do, there up because, rather than dealing with the can be underlying reasons for shotgun complexity of the organizing situation and organizing. The person may want to rush learning from mistakes, it turns all prob- things because they are feeling burnt out lems into the most important problem and want to “get it over with.” Maybe they and, predictably, uses a 12 gauge to blow are very excited about the IWW or union- them away. ism in general and are letting this high Part of how shotgun organizing mani- amount of energy drive them completely. fests as a problem is that the campaign Maybe this person could feel like they are can become about the shotgun-toting the only one “getting things done,” and worker rather than the issue at hand. For therefore have to overcompensate for what instance, if a certain anti-union co-worker they feel is less effort from other commit- keeps trash-talking the union on the job, tee members. These are just a few of the a shotgun organizer’s first response might numerous possibilities that might explain be to confront that worker and start yell- this conduct. We should be careful not to ing at them about how they’re wrong and assume, though. Instead, we should talk stupid. Instead of considering the issue as to the fellow worker to get to the heart of a committee and coming up with a solution the problem. Discovering the underlying that might work, like having a pro-union reasons why people behave like this can be friend approach the anti-union person the first huge step to a solution. Graphic: Mike Konopacki and seek to eradicate all oppressive behav- looked. Patriarchal forms of domination Thinking Feminist, Thinking Revolutionary iors at their very cores. This will, in part, are often perpetuated unconsciously By Nicki Meier and that failing to recognize someone as require us to individually and collectively by well-intentioned people. We need to Radical unionism requires worker the combination of these identities is inac- reexamine, reclaim, and recreate language make sure that we are calling each other participation, without discrimination, in curate and harmful, in and of itself, as it that is inclusive, non-threatening, and out, practicing self-awareness, and striv- order to implement worker democracies. discredits a fellow worker’s experiences. clear. ing to foster diversity that is valued in This means we must give all members a An intersectional radical feminist ap- Within my own branch I have consis- everything we do. voice, and we must be conscious of the proach will require us to place language tently witnessed certain members talking Accepting that our branches have language we use. Words can be used to under a microscope. It is not about stifling over others. This is a form of silencing issues with language, voice and repre- silence others or they can be used to fos- “free speech,” but rather about examining them; it is a form of domination. I have sentation is not weakness, it is a space for ter a safe space that ensures all workers’ our language and its implications and ef- seen, and also been a victim of, per- growth. It is good to acknowledge these voices are heard. To be a strong rank- fects. If we want to create a world in which sonal verbal attacks—dismissing a fellow instances for growth, for without that and-file radical union, we must create a oppression is non-existent, whereby hier- worker’s perspective as over-sensitive or realization we cannot move forward. It is space in which we can hear all workers’ archical structures have been annihilated crazy—which again, is a form of domina- when we fail to accept we have room for struggles. And in doing so, we will better we must constantly ask ourselves the fol- tion that works to silence the target. These improvement and when we fail to adapt understand the depth and breadth of the lowing key questions: types of behaviors are unacceptable, and that we become stagnant. oppression workers face—which is crucial • What role should language and rep- we must work hard to avoid them. I be- This may have been articulated best to the abolition of domination. resentation play in the creation of this lieve we are capable of civil discourse that by bell hooks in “Talking Back: Think- But in order for us to be truly radi- world? challenges and pushes each other to think ing Feminist, Thinking Black” when she cal we must be radical in all we do. That • Are we speaking by way of patriarchal critically. Critical thinking is, after all, at wrote, “It is necessary to remember, as we means in our individual politics and in power structures, where the few dominate the very center of any transformation, think critically about domination, that we our relationships with and to others. the many, where the privileged take prec- whether personal or systemic. We do not all have the capacity to act in ways that This requires an intersectional radical edent over the marginalized? need material or social privilege to change oppress, dominate, wound (whether or feminist approach. One that understands • If so, how can we change this to create the world, we need critical thinking. not that power is institutionalized). It is how deeply intertwined oppressions are a safe, inclusive, and revolutionary space Radicals are proud of their class con- necessary to remember that it is first the with each other; that can analyze and where we are not simply recreating the sciousness and they claim to be conscious potential oppressor within that we must understand that our comrades experience power-over structures we see in the “White of other forms of oppression. Yet within resist—the potential victim within that we oppression in different and varying ways, Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy”? our personal lives and our branches these must rescue—otherwise we cannot hope because of their (perceived) identities; We must understand, acknowledge, kinds of behaviors can often be over- for an end to domination, for liberation.” October 2013 • Industrial Worker • Page 5 Wobbly & North American News IWW Organizer Training In Uganda A Success Get Your New Wobbly Songbook Today! By Weijagye Justus By Baltimore Red, X341189 The recent success of the Organizer Long-time Wobbly, hobo and rail- Training which took place on Aug. 25 roader “Baltimore Red” has produced and Aug. 27 at the Kirigiime Guest House a new songbook entitled “Boxcar Sing in Kabale, Uganda, and the fast develop- Along: Songs for Hoboes & Tramps, Bums ments our opposition and strikes towards & Boomers, Wobblies & Wanderers, Riff- the ruling class and the bosses, are posi- Raff & Rabble-Rousers.” This book of 64 tive achievements for the working class classic railroad, hobo and union songs is and motivation in the struggle against fully illustrated with photos and graphics the forces of exploitation, oppression and dating back to the 19th century. suppression. The book includes songs of tramp, These and other worker-initiated de- hobo, Wobbly and railroad themes, and velopments against the employing class Training in Kabale. Photo: Weijagye Justus includes classics such as: “Waiting for A and ruling class is an indicator of the suc- the working class to join the IWW not Train” (Jimmy Rogers); “Ramblin’ Fever” cess of the workers’ struggles and general only for bringing positive changes to their (Merle Haggard); “Queen of the Rails” struggle against wage slavery. workplaces, but also in moving forward the (Utah Phillips); “This Train is Bound This calls for all members of the work- revolution to abolish the wage system and for Glory” (Woody Guthrie); “The Big ing class to work together as one unified wage slavery. The more of you who join Rock Candy Mountain” (Haywire Mac force in the name of the all workers’ union, us, the stronger we shall be and the more McClintock); “The Midnight Special” Graphic: Baltimore Red, X341189 the IWW, and fight for the revolutionary changes we shall bring to the members of (Leadbelly); “Milwaukee Blues” (Charlie Weed, Calif., is making this book available and evolutionary achievements where working class. Poole); “Only a Hobo” (Bob Dylan); “The to such musicians free of charge when everyone counts in as not only part of Donate to IWW organizing efforts Tramp” (Joe Hill); and “The Popular Wob- they lack the financial resources to make the workers’ history of struggles but also in Uganda: http://www.indiegogo.com/ bly” (T-Bone Slim). Each song is complete a donation. For those of you who would participates in the making of that history. projects/organising-the-working-class- with all lyrics and music. Many songs have like a copy and can donate, the suggested We therefore call on all members of in-uganda. historic notes and the book is illustrated donation is $15 (includes all shipping and throughout with photographs of hobos handling). In donating, you are assisting and tramps from the turn of the century, us to print copies that can be given away Labor Day Celebrated In Virginia City, Nevada the Great Depression, the post-steam era cheaply or free to those who are financial- By Ron Kaminkow and modern times. ly down-and-out. After that, all proceeds More than two dozen Wobblies There is a new breed of itinerant mu- go to benefit the BBCRC and support its and their allies marched in the annual sicians out on the road today, hopping mission (see the website http://www. Labor Day parade in Virginia City, freight trains and booming around the bbcrc.org for more information). Nev., on Sept. 2. Over 100 years ear- country, working odd jobs and playing To order your copy, email balti- lier, the Story County local of the IWW on the street for nickels and dimes. Many [email protected] or call 608-358- marched down this same street on are once again interested in the songs of 5771. Or simply write a check payable to Labor Day 1908. Following the parade, working people of a bygone era. The ob- “BBCRC” and mail it to: Baltimore Red, Wobblies toured the Virginia City Min- ject of this book is to preserve these old P.O. Box 2131, Reno, NV 89505. Or even ers Union Hall, home to the Comstock songs and re-introduce them to this new better, see the BBCRC Store and order Miners’ Union that gave birth to hard generation of musicians. The Black Butte online through WePay at https://www. rock miners’ unions throughout the Center for Railroad Culture (BBCRC) in wepay.com/stores/bbcrc-store. west, resulting in the formation of the Wobs on Labor Day. Photo: Ron Kaminkow Western Federation of Miners. Madison Solidarity Singers Arrested By John Kalwaic have been arrested. The Capitol police did Entire Shoe Store Staff Quits In Rochester Long after the media lost its focus on not stop there. They also arrested onlook- By John Kalwaic over the internet is now be- Wisconsin’s struggle against Governor ers who were recording the incidents with At the beginning of Sep- ing called “The Declaration of Scott Walker to keep public sector work- their cell phones. tember, the entire staff of Independence from a Shitty ers’ bargaining rights in The protestors’ strug- the Journeys footwear and Mall Job.” 2011, the Solidarity Singers gles against the attacks on apparel store, in Rochester, The store, which sells are keeping the struggle public sector bargaining N.Y.’s Marketplace Mall, quit items for kids and teenag- alive. The singers have rights and other issues due to the abusive behavior ers, was then closed during been coming to Madison have piqued the interest of of the store manager. The the middle of back-to-school every week to sing harm- civil liberties groups who manager apparently did not week, which will no doubt less labor songs as well as say Walker’s measures give an employee time off cost the store a lot of money. other social justice songs against the singers are un- for cancer treatment, which This is one example of em- from the 1960s. However, Photo: Jenna Pope, Labor Notes constitutional. The arrests enraged the staff. ployee resistance in a non- Walker has ordered that singing at the and the singers have breathed new life The staff left a note at traditional form. Capitol rotunda in Madison is now illegal, into a movement which was thought to be the closed store. A picture of With files from Gawker. despite the building being a public space. dead by some. the note that has gone viral Photo: reddit.com com. Many singers, some in their 60s and 70s, With files from Labor Notes. Los Angeles IWW Honors Ricardo Flores Magón With Evening Of Entertainment By Diana Barahona in 1918. Martínez wrote this work in order It was in Los Angeles The Los Angeles branch of the IWW to unearth the radical roots of the Occupy where Magón, fighting and community members filled Beyond movement, taking us back to a time when alongside American an- Baroque in Venice on Aug. 9 for an Los Angeles was one of the “reddest” cities archists, embraced anar- evening of music and drama honoring in America. chism himself. The aim of the branch’s namesake, Ricardo Flores As Martínez wrote in the Los Angeles the insurrection that he Magón. Times, just days after the Los Angeles and his brother Enrique Opening the show, song-fighter Ross Police Department (LAPD) had brutally led in Baja was to found Altman performed “The Rebel Girl,” removed the Occupy L.A. encampment a socialist republic. In a “There is a Power in the Union” and “The from Solidarity Park: show of international soli- Preacher and the Slave”—all written by “The scene Magón joined in Los Ange- darity, several Wobblies Joe Hill, the legendary Wobbly singer les was an early 20th century version of the fought alongside the PLM, and songwriter. It was in Ross Altman’s Occupy movement. There were raucous among them Joe Hill. hometown of San Pedro where Hill, a rallies at the plaza, festive fundraisers at After a rendition of “A 30-year-old migrant laborer, joined the the Italian Hall and plenty of run-ins with Las Barricadas,” Martínez IWW in 1910. These songs were particu- the LAPD.” and Amador performed Rubén Martínez (left) and Marco Photo: Diana Barahona Amador (right) perform. larly relevant to the theme of the event, The Los Angeles Times itself has “El Golpe,” a musically since they highlighted the solidarity that played a significant historical role in complex piece that Amador says was at age 49. Martínez performed “I’m Writ- existed between the IWW and Mexican defense of the ruling class, attacking or- inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and ing You From Inside,” based on letters revolutionaries in Los Angeles in the sec- ganized labor, socialists, anarchists and Tunisia. He explained the relevance of Magón wrote from Leavenworth which ond decade of the 20th century. Wobblies in its pages. Martínez reported: the song to Flores Magón, who dedicated talk about his resolve to continue to resist Ross then performed international “Trials of the radicals were heavily his whole life to revolution: “He was more the oppression of state power, even as he songs of struggle—“A Las Barricadas,” a covered by The Times, whose general man- than just an intellectual—he was bringing suffers from failing health, exacerbated revolutionary song from the Spanish Civil ager, Harrison Gray Otis, seethed against revolutionary concepts to a revolutionary by neglect by prison staff. War, “Guantanamera” and his own origi- anarchists in general, whom he blamed for time.” After performing Woodie Guthrie’s nal song about the Mexican Revolution. the 1910 bombing of The Times Building, Following El Golpe, Martínez spoke “All You Fascists are Bound to Lose,” Mar- Next, Rubén Martínez took the stage and against Flores Magón in particular. about Magón’s life as a political prisoner. tínez and Amador took questions from with Chicano Son artist Marco Amador. Otis owned upward of a million acres of Repeatedly imprisoned in Mexico, he was the audience. Finally Ross Altman joined They performed music and readings from land across the border in Baja California, forced to go into exile in the United States, them on stage and led the singing of “Soli- his show (which aired on PBS last year), and an armed contingent of ‘Magonistas’ where he was also persecuted, doing a total darity Forever,” the IWW’s anthem. “The Ballad of Ricardo Flores Magón”—a associated with Flores Magón’s Partido of nine years in prison. His last arrest, part Beyond Baroque is an independent tribute to the revolutionary anarchist who Liberal Mexicano [PLM] briefly took con- of the Palmer Raids, was in 1918, for violat- literary and arts center and public space lived and struggled in Los Angeles from trol of Tijuana and other parts of Baja in ing the Espionage Act of 1917. He died in that has hosted many cutting-edge poets 1904 until he was arrested for the last time 1911.” Leavenworth Penitentiary four years later and musical talents through the years. Page 6 • Industrial Worker • October 2013 Special Striking Workers At Insomnia Cookies Join The IWW arrived around should go out on strike… why not?’” highlighted in Boston by a 4 p.m. rally at noon, and by 3:30 Along with low pay, no benefits, and the Boston Common. As Jonathan Peña p.m. five others unrealistic expectations on the part of the told the Industrial Worker, “We want to had arrived. On company, workers complained about a show solidarity with the struggles of other Tuesday, all four lack of breaks. According to Helali, “Cus- fast food workers because their fight is our strikers joined tomers would flood in and sometimes we’d fight.” Insomnia workers were present at the IWW and held have to have all of us up front helping. It the Fight for Fifteen pickets in Boston a meeting with was constant on our feet. Rarely did we get beginning that morning at 6 a.m. and end- union organizers. an opportunity to sit down and relax.” It ing with an evening picket at Insomnia in On Thursday, was the pressure of the crowd of hungry Harvard Square at 6 p.m. the strikers and customers that finally drove these workers While half of the striking Insomnia their union held to strike. However, in not contacting the workers have moved from Boston this a march from the union prior to striking and not organizing September, the other two workers are Harvard Square the day shift to join the strike or a union, continuing to plan public demonstra- T Station to the the strikers began at a disadvantage. With tions and discuss unionization with their store with 50 dedication to their cause and plenty of co-workers, Harvard students, and other IWW members support from the IWW and other allies, service workers, while they pursue legal Insomnia workers fight for better conditions. Photo: FW Le Le LeChat and allies, includ- strikers hope to overcome the obstacles in charges against their employer for with- ing Harvard din- front of them and turn Insomnia Cookies holding breaks and back pay and failing Continued from 1 ing hall workers, members of Harvard Stu- into a job worth having and to spread the to meet minimum wage. At 3 a.m. the regional manager, who dent Labor Action Movement, Common union to the Insomnia Cookies locations The company plans to open a new lo- runs the only Insomnia Cookies in Mas- Struggle/Lucha Común, Boston Solidarity near college campuses across the country. cation near Boston University in the near sachusetts, arrived to file the paperwork to Network and others participating. The Insomnia strike began just a week future, plans that may have been delayed fire all four strikers. He then called Luke Insomnia workers marched to their and a half before a national wave of fast by the ongoing strike. Robinson to threaten him with a lawsuit shop again on Monday evening, following food workers’ strikes organized by the For updates and information on for “violating contractual obligations,” said a union rally against racially-motivated Service Employees International Union how to contribute to the strike fund or Helali. The store did not open again until firings at Harvard University organized (SEIU). On Thursday, Aug. 29, fast food get involved, please visit https://www. 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, two hours later by the Harvard No Layoffs Campaign led workers across the country participated in facebook.com/insomniaunion or http:// than usual. by “dual card” members of the IWW and a one-day strike for a $15 minimum wage, iwwboston.org. Picketing began that morning at 10 the Harvard Union of Clerical and Tech- a.m., and all of the strikers were on the nical Workers (HUTCW). Onsomnia line by 11 a.m. The police, according to worker Jonathan Peña addressed the Helali, “came about eight or nine times crowd. Around 50 people, including and told us to stay away, do not bother students from the Harvard Student the store...They said we’d be arrested if Labor Action Movement, joined the we went inside. They told us to stay on march from Harvard to the Insomnia the center median, about 30 feet from location, surprising the manager and the store or we would be arrested.” While leafleting the public. workers have a legal right to picket on the While the workers at Insomnia sidewalk outside their store, as long as they had not joined a union prior to strik- remain moving in a circle or otherwise, the ing, some workers had been discussing police called in by the boss intimidated workplace conditions, unions, and the workers. strikes for weeks. According to Helali, That afternoon members of the IWW he and other workers “would speak arrived to lend support. Helali, who about the issues that pertain to our job reached out to the union, said, “I knew that and the conditions there. I heard a lot the IWW in Boston [were] pretty militant of the other workers’’ gripes, what they and ready to go straight to action, as op- wanted to be changed, how they felt they posed to some of the business unions who were treated. I tried to gauge the gen- probably would not even come or try to eral overall feeling, and concerns of the organize us. I knew the IWW would do ev- workers. It prompted me to eventually erything in their power to help us out. So I put the idea out for a strike, as a joke at decided to reach out on the Facebook page first maybe about two weeks before the and post about our strike.” One organizer strike. I’d sort of casually say, ‘hey we Boston Wobblies on the picket line. Photo: FW Le Le LeChat Reports, Discussion Abound At The 2013 IWW General Convention too much in com- shops use the union logo were discussed vention. Both these motions will be put parison to the rev- at length. Some delegates argued that our on the ballot sent to all members so that enues) but also be- revolutionary mindset should prevent us they can vote on their addition to the cause the board, from helping companies make sales by constitution. the editor, and the having the union bug on their product, The convention left me with a very GST felt that there others contended that a lot of workers positive impression about the state of our was some waste in made purchasing decisions based on the union. Everyone was extremely serious the sense that re- fact that products or services were made about the work that needed to be done. The sources allocated by unionized workers. In the end the mo- civil discussions were always carried out to printing and dis- tion passed as it was written, including the with the aim of finding concrete solutions tributing the paper possibility to use the union bug. The sec- to issues rather than petty politicking. The were too high for ond official motion, also a constitutional ability of the Edmonton branch to run the actual need. A amendment, was aimed at modifying this convention in such an efficient way lot of papers were how charges are handled at conventions. inspired me to continue to work hard at left to rot at GHQ The purpose of the motion was twofold: building our local branch so that we could because of the fact first, to guarantee that the charges are one day do the same. If the delegates that that we need to dealt with as much fairness as possible, were at this year’s convention are typical print more than which implies allocating enough time to of our membership, our union has a great Delegates discuss the important issues. Photo: DJ Alperovitz we distribute. Also, review them—which isn’t possible in two future. a lot of members days; and second, to Continued from 1 read the PDF version already and throw allow all delegates to and their work evaluated, so that we can the copy they receive straight into the participate in union ensure quality across all trainings. recycling bin. business rather than The most contentious report was that On Sunday, we moved on to working spend valuable con- of the Industrial Worker’s editor since she, on the motions. There were two sets of vention time serving the General Executive Board (GEB), and them, a few emergency motions and mo- on a charges commit- the GST have come to a decision to distrib- tions that had been submitted on time to tee. The motion basi- ute the paper digitally by default, unless be included officially in the agenda. The cally calls for a com- the member asks to receive a hard copy. first official motion was a constitutional mittee to be formed to Many delegates had questions and the edi- amendment made in the spirit of adjust- deal with the charges tor, the GST as well as members of the GEB ing the language of the structures used over a longer period had the occasion to address the opposition in workplace organizing to reflect actual of time, rather than of certain members and elaborate on the practices. The job branches, which have have one committee reasons that motivated this decision. I be- no specified rights or responsibilities in the formed by conven- lieve this discussion clarified things. From current version of the constitution, would tion delegates—which my interpretation, the decision was made be removed to follow the organizational would rush the charg- because of financial concerns (i.e. that the committee’s approach that is closer to es process during the printing and shipping costs had increased our current methods. The merits of letting two days of the con- Wobblies sing “Solidarity Forever.” Photo: Diane Krauthamer October 2013 • Industrial Worker • Page 7 IWW History The First Annual Frank Little Memorial Gathering By Jim Del Duca assignment. FW Little was known far and ready to respond to the situation. A new The soldiers made it clear that any serious On Saturday, Aug. 3, Montana and wide as a fearless and brilliant revolu- union was formed, the Metals Mine Work- challenge to the mine owners would be met Idaho Wobblies gathered in Butte, Mont., tionary organizer. Originally from Indian ers’ Union (MMWU), led by two former with machine gun fire. The strike went on, for the First Annual Frank Little Memo- Territory-Oklahoma, he was described as IWW members. Membership quickly but eventually failed, as workers were shot, rial Gathering. A combination of memo- “half Indian, half white, and all IWW.” grew to 12,000. The new organization was starved out, or persuaded to return to the rial service, union solidarity picnic, and He had held numerous critical organizing immediately attacked by the boss-owned mines with small hand-outs. On the na- organizing meeting, the gathering com- positions in high-profile IWW campaigns, press. The worker’s demands for increases tional scale, the capitalist-controlled fed- memorated the life of our renowned IWW demonstrated exceptional ability, and was in safety and wages were rejected and the eral government used the events in Butte organizer Frank Little and marked the an- well-known across the United States and owners refused to recognize the legitimacy to initiate a wave of repression against the niversary of his Aug. 1, 1917 assassination. Canada as an implacable foe of capitalism of the MMWU. The new union then voted IWW. Even today, the Sedition Act of 1918, Former General Executive Board and a selfless champion of the working to continue the strike. Soon over 15,000 a set of amendments to the Espionage Act (GEB) member and fearless revolutionary class. mine workers were refusing to work. The of 1917, is used by the government to pros- organizer, FW Little was invited to Butte Calling soldiers “Uncle Sam’s scabs in pressure was building in this vortex of ecute government whistle-blowers and by a delegation of local copper miners to uniforms” and holding that warfare only capitalists vs. working-class confrontation. anti-war resisters (e.g. Edward Snowden), represent the IWW. This came in response furthers the aims of the bosses, he firmly After FW Little arrived in Butte, he and it is a direct result of the threat posed to the disastrous fires in the Granite believed that the IWW should actively twice addressed crowds of over 6,000 min- by the IWW. The Sedition Act of 1918 Mountain/Speculator Mine which killed discourage work- ers and was has been used to imprison hundreds of 168 hard rock miners on June 8, 1917. The ers from joining invited to par- Wobblies and countless others, and is a capitalists who controlled the Butte mines the military. “The ticipate in the key component in government persecution were making huge profits from the copper IWW is opposed MMWU high- of anti-war activists. The law was tailor- extracted from the miles of mineshafts to all wars,” Lit- level strategy made to convict and imprison Wobblies beneath the city. This is because copper tle commented. meetings. He and other enemies of capitalism. That was, and still is, a key component of arma- While some contributed the law is still in force, and is still actively ment manufacture. Small arms cartridges within the IWW one central being used against the working class, is and artillery shell casings, made of brass were unsure if message, the testimony to the revolutionary legacy of (a copper alloy), were being expended by publicly opposing winning IWW FW Frank Little. the millions on the battlefields of World the war would be strategy, of Montana and Idaho Wobblies are War I era Europe, and killing millions of strategically wise solidarity intent on growing the union. The Annual the working class. This made the mines of for the organiza- among all the Frank Little Memorial Gathering is being Butte vital to both simple corporate profits tion—and there Wobs at Frank Little’s grave. Photo: Jim Del Duca workers. If the developed as our yearly opportunity to and international capitalist war interests. was real fear that the bosses and their MMWU could stay focused and accomplish coordinate, network and strategize for Bosses were not concerned that miners tools in government would become even that, then the power of the bosses would be organizing in our area. Further, a commit- had a more dangerous job than soldiers— more aggressive in their attacks against broken, and a new day would dawn for the tee was formed to advocate for Butte to be profits and social order, as always, were the IWW—FW Little was uncompromis- workers. The IWW had been successful in the scene of a major IWW event to com- their top priorities. ing in his open opposition. “Better to go the past and the workers were ready to act. memorate the centennial of FW Little’s The miners of Butte, recognizing that out in a blaze of glory than to give in,” he The extreme danger to corporate control assassination. While currently lacking a their only hope for physical safety and stated. “Either we’re for this capitalistic was obvious. As a result, at some high level General Membership Branch, Butte still social justice would be through collective slaughterfest, or we’re against it. I’m of the corporate association, the decision has a strong Wobbly presence, and area bargaining, and knowing that they needed ready to face the firing squad rather than was made to have FW Little killed. In the members feel that the propaganda oppor- help from outside of boss-controlled compromise.” The reference to the firing early hours of Aug. 1, masked men, who tunities connected to such an event would Montana, formed a union and attempted squad was not just dramatic wording. Our identified themselves as officers of the be considerable. The capitalist legacy in to affiliate with the politically-powerful premier Wobbly musical propagandist, law, entered the hotel where FW Little Butte is the huge, city-swallowing excava- American Federation of Labor (AFL). The Joe Hill, had been framed and executed was lodging. They took him by force, tied tion known as the “Berkely Pit,” which has AFL insisted that the miners disband their by firing squad in Salt Lake City only a him, dragged him through the city streets the distinction of being the largest super- new union and join the AFL as individuals, few years prior. Hill’s talents, skills and behind an automobile, and then hanged fund toxic waste site in North America. effectively giving away their local control convictions made him a tremendous threat him by the neck from a railroad trestle. It is stark and undeniable testimony of to outside (capitalist-friendly) interests. to the capitalist class. No arrests were ever made—not surpris- what capitalism does to the earth as well The Butte miners refused to sell out and Before the Granite Mountain/Specu- ing considering that the prime suspects, as the people. called upon the one organization coura- lator disaster there were roughly 16,000 at least from the view of the miners, were Wobblies are currently actively agitat- geous enough to challenge the capitalists, unorganized miners in Butte, an “open- all city police officers. ing and organizing in several Montana our own Industrial Workers of the World. shop” policy, and a system of black listing After the murder of FW Little, the locations including Billings, Bozeman, The IWW was under no illusions as that was intended to prevent union miners capitalists applied overwhelming force to Butte and Missoula. Membership is grow- to the difficulty of the task at hand. To from securing employment. After the 168 break the Butte strike and regain complete ing, with a healthy mix of older Wobblies succeed in organizing under the circum- fatalities in the mine fires, the Butte work- control. Martial law was declared and fed- and young workers new to the movement. stances at Butte would require the best ers were deeply disturbed. A spontaneous eral troops were deployed to occupy Butte Members interested in becoming part of of the best in organizing ability. At the and unorganized walk-out developed. The where they remained to protect the bosses the 2017 Butte-Frank Little Centennial request of then GEB Chair “Big Bill” Hay- three existing Butte miners’ unions (with for the next four years. Their commander Planning Committee are encouraged to wood, FW Little accepted the dangerous only a few hundred members) were not was future-general Capt. Omar Bradley. contact Jim Del Duca at [email protected]. Opinion

BySocialists Jon Hochschartner And The Animaldeer have Question a right to a trial by a jury of would prefer to hear from readers of his- the socialist left. Despite continuous government re- its peers?” he asks ridiculously. “Should torical figures they know who incorporated My theory is that large segments of pression of animal activists, in many ways cows have freedom of assembly, speech animals in their progressive vision. I am the socialist left, which at the moment it has never been an easier time to be a and religion?” most interested in hearing of leaders who is disproportionately made up of white- vegetarian or vegan. One can find a wide He acknowledges he is speaking were women, people of color or engaged collar workers, have adopted a misguided selection of food without animal products tongue-in-cheek, but insists “…there is a in explicit class struggle. workerism. It is a perspective that glorifies in the most unlikely of places, such as point to it.” D’Amato goes on to recount In a preface to an edition of “Animal a crude caricature of blue-collar culture, in the small towns of upstate New York, Adolph Hitler’s animal protection efforts Farm,” George Orwell explained the in an attempt to bond with those on low- where the typical accoutrement is not because, as you know, animal activists are central metaphor of his satirical novel, est tiers of the capitalist system. To these tie-dye, but a NASCAR cap. The national actually closet Nazis. writing, “Men exploit animals in much the more privileged members of the work- vegan population is increasing rapidly, Things are hardly any different on the same way as the rich exploit the proletar- ing class, casual indifference to animal which according to a Harris Interactive anarchist side of the aisle. For instance, iat.” Modern animal activists such as Bob exploitation is a defining trait of blue- poll has doubled between 2009 and 2011. log onto the Libcom.org forums, which Torres and David Nibert have expanded collar workers. That this is immensely Even so, much of the socialist left remains are maintained by London-based libertar- on this unifying theme, injecting Marxist condescending should go without saying. particularly inhospitable for those con- ian communists, and ask, as I have, these thought into the emerging field of critical But it’s also not based on a socialist under- cerned with animal domestication. otherwise nice folks what they think of animal studies. But there has been no simi- standing of class. For socialists, economic This hostility goes back a long way. vegetarians or vegans. And you’ll see that lar effort on the part of anti-capitalists. groups are not defined by eating habits, As Dr. Steve Best points out, Karl Marx the British didn’t get their reputation for I don’t expect the socialist left to culture or even income. They’re defined and Frederick Engels “lumped animal beef-eating for nothing. suddenly develop an appetite for veggie by someone’s relationship to the means welfarists, vegetarians, and anti-vivisec- And yet animal activists have always burgers and almond milk ice cream. The of production. tionists into the same petite-bourgeoisie been part of progressive change. John broad movement anti-capitalists hope to My class struggle resume isn’t any- category comprised of charity organiz- Oswald, for instance, was a Scottish veg- create will be reflective of the masses. And thing to write home about. But it’s not ers, temperance fanatics, and naïve etarian and member of the Jacobin Club veganism is just not where the masses are something I’m embarrassed about either. reformists.” Leon Trotsky railed against who took part in the French Revolution, yet. Much of this has to do with vegan op- I’ve written for a variety of leftist publica- those opposed to revolutionary violence, and died fighting monarchist forces. Élisée tions, at least the processed ones, being tions, from Socialist Worker to Z Maga- scornfully describing their ideology as Reclus, also a vegetarian, was a participant prohibitively expensive. This will change zine. I was active in the Occupy move- “vegetarian-Quaker prattle.” in the Paris Commune of 1871, for which when economies of scale come into play. ment, for which I spent a couple days in Things aren’t that different today. he was imprisoned and exiled. Of course, But the attitude toward animal rights jail. I filed charges against my employer, Paul D’Amato, a writer for whom I other- well-known vegetarian Mahatma Gandhi among the socialist left is more reaction- and won a settlement, for union busting. wise have a good deal of respect, took on led the movement to topple British colo- ary than that of the general population. I’ve made some humble contributions, but the animal question in a Socialist Worker nialism in India. Cesar Chavez, a vegan, My low-wage co-workers might think my I’m also a vegan. And I’m sick of feeling I’ll column which reads as little more than co-founded the organization that would views regarding non-humans are privi- be treated like the late comedian Rodney uninformed trolling. become the United Farm Workers union. leged and eccentric, but they never display Dangerfield—no respect!—if I don’t hide “Does a mountain lion that kills a One could go on with such examples but I the vitriolic scorn my beliefs earn among my feelings in socialist circles. Page 8 • Industrial Worker • October 2013 Special The Parallels Between The Sisters’ Camelot & By Travis Elise & Robbie Jenson become overpowered and demoralized ers were generally mis- Travis & Robbie are members of the while the other canvassers remain entirely treated, including being Jimmy John’s Workers Union and the disempowered. The same thing occurred denied raises because Twin Cities General Membership Branch when Hardy Coleman, a former canvass they declared union sup- of the IWW. This is Part 2 of an article director and then collective member, at- port, while others were in which they discuss the similarities tempted to implement changes identical given promotions and between the struggles at Jimmy John’s to many of the demands presented by the raises for taking the side and Sisters’ Camelot. Part 1 appeared on canvassers to the collective. It happened of the company. pages 1 & 6 of the September IW. again when Bobby Becker was a member Of course, the Sisters’ of the collective and became the sole Camelot collective mem- This is the first we have heard of advocate for the canvassers. There’s no bers do work and perform your concerns. If we had known, reason to believe things will be any dif- important functions for we would have gladly made things ferent if a different canvasser or two were the organization’s opera- better. You can use existing ways to to become collective members. At Jimmy tions and programs. This engage with the business so we can John’s, bosses gave out raises and had is not, however, about fix problems by working together. one-on-one conversations with workers to the collective, and no We will do things to show our ap- try to legitimize their so-called “open door canvasser has spoken ill preciation of you and make it easier policy” and hinder the collective action of of work done in their pro- for you to come to us. the workers. grams. The issue at hand Many workers go to management The canvassers are in agreement is simply that one group with grievances when they first arise; we about what they need in order to improve of workers has power are conditioned to seek help from au- their work environment and do a better over their own work and thority figures, whether they are parents, job. They shouldn’t need to join another that of an entirely dif- teachers, police officers or bosses. This body of the organization in order to make ferent group of workers, is rarely ever effective in the workplace, changes related to their work. Addition- leaving the latter disen- however, because management is typi- ally, they shouldn’t need to take on the franchised. To make this cally more removed from the grievance or responsibility of making decisions about union out to be an attack because resolving it is simply not in their other programs carried out by the orga- on Sisters’ Camelot as self-interest. This is frustrating and de- nization if they don’t want to. Part of the an organization or the moralizing for workers, especially those problem in this situation is that workers collective members as who genuinely care about their work. It within the organization have the power to workers is classist and is more productive for workers to talk to make decisions about the entire organiza- narrow-minded. It ig- management collectively or to implement tion while others have no decision-making nores workers who lack solutions together through direct action. power at all. It is the right of all workers to their own autonomy, and Jimmy John’s workers picket. Photo: twincities.indymedia.org When workers realize that their problems control their own work environment and it indicates a defense of capitalist hier- missed shifts; since the canvassers raise are common problems based on shared processes, and no other group needs to archies. Denying any worker their basic 95 percent of the organization’s operating experiences, they are able to assert their do that for them. Additionally, no worker right alongside their fellow workers, and budget, this obviously affects the organi- needs more strongly together. should have to work unpaid time (a re- to exert control over their own work by zation’s financial status. As far as medical In the past, canvass directors and quirement for being part of the collective) refusing to relinquish your power is, well, bills go, it’s a basic worker’s right. All canvassers for Sisters’ Camelot have to have a say on the job. exactly what Jimmy John’s did. And it is employees should be entitled to workers’ unsuccessfully attempted to individually done partly out of a love for control and compensation for workplace injuries, and lobby the collective to improve the work- We are workers, too. We have authority, partly out of a distrust of the if Sisters’ Camelot refuses to accept this de- ing conditions of the canvassers without worked hard to build this business workforce that is fundamentally rooted in mand, they are worse than even the most success, causing many canvassers and and deserve your respect. Your classism, and partly out of a desire to con- sinister corporation by taking advantage directors to leave on bad terms. Even the organizing is hurtful to us. We are tinue to control the flow of capital. This is of their contracted workers. simple fact that the canvass workers have victims of your organizing. painfully similar to the situation unfolding There are also negotiable demands to go to an authority with their ideas, In anti-union drives, bosses like to at Sisters’ Camelot. The bosses at Sisters’ that indisputably will increase productiv- needs and demands debunks the idea that emphasize the fact that they also show up don’t trust the workers nor do they show ity within the canvass operation, such Sisters’ Camelot is an organization based to work, contribute to the success of the any indication of giving up any of their as accepting credit card donations at on worker control. In an organization that business, or perhaps started it themselves. power. The collective has explicitly stated the door. Other demands will improve allegedly values social justice and direct They like to play the victim card, insisting they don’t trust the canvassers with things the canvasser’s experiences at work and action, the canvassers should be able that workers’ organizing is uncalled for, such as credit card information. The col- encourage them to do better work, like to implement their ideas for improving offensive, hurtful and disrespectful. In this lective has also said the structural changes paid sick days and vacation, a 5 percent their conditions and performance at work way, management and/or owners try to would be “unhealthy” for Sisters’ Camelot base pay raise, an extra bonus for working without seeking approval from anyone frame the union drive as a personal matter and that there must be “accountability” in four shifts per week in addition to raising above them. and try to draw attention to themselves. place. By accountability, they obviously $500 per week, and access for the canvass In an anti-union drive, bosses will They often say the organizing drive is un- mean accountability to the collective. To coordinator to view online donations. All always offer concessions that serve both fair and that there are more appropriate say the canvass should be accountable to of these ideas would encourage canvassers as gestures to placate the workers and as ways to engage with the company in order the collective but not vice versa is incred- to invest themselves more strongly in their mechanisms for challenging the power to offer suggestions or express concerns. ibly disrespectful and belittling. work, which directly affects the income of of the union by roping workers back into This argument also veils a threat: if you the organization as a whole. The primary systems that are controlled by manage- organize, you will betray me and I will The union drive could cause the reason for opposing these demands is not ment. The solution proposed (and major make your life at work hellish. At Jimmy business to close. We simply can’t financial; it is because of a lack of trust concession made) by the bosses has been John’s, as with most businesses, prefer- afford to have a union. that, like Jimmy John’s, is a backward, for canvassers to join the collective. By ential treatment is offered to workers who Management will jump to the worst classist, and selfish tendency that is keep- offering them spots on the collective, the are in the good graces of management by possible scenario in an anti-union drive. ing Sisters’ Camelot from truly realizing bosses are individualizing the workers in being particularly reverent to authori- In many ways, this is meant to play on the its alleged goal as a worker-controlled an attempt to divide and conquer. One ties or doing personal favors. During the fears of workers. It plays into the idea that organization. canvasser on the collective can easily anti-union drive at Jimmy John’s, work- workers should feel lucky to even have a The last point related to money is job in an effort to undermine their dignity simple: no demand costs an organization and their basic right to make a living and more than an anti-union drive. The collec- have control over their work. Sure, all tive has attempted to paint the economic Subscribe to the Industrial Worker businesses will be affected by some of the demands of the union as too costly to the direct action tactics used by workers when organization. This anti-union drive is cost- Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription. they organize, including strikes, but this ing Sisters’ Camelot far more money than is a necessary part of forcing people in they would incur by giving the workers a Give a gift that keeps your family or friends thinking. power to relinquish the power that does 5 percent raise and increase in their fun- not belong to them. At Jimmy John’s, the draising bonuses. In fact, the organization Get 10 issues of working class news and views for: company threatened to do away with bike itself is on the brink of collapse. Program- • US $18 for individuals. delivery, claiming they would be unable to ming has been cut, they are planning on • US $30 for library/institutions. afford the insurance policy with the added moving out of their warehouse space and • US $30 for international subscriptions. cost of having a union. Similarly, the col- the collective members can’t even afford lective at Sisters’ Camelot threatened to to pay themselves anymore. Name: ______replace the canvassers with volunteers. At Jimmy John’s, the bosses spent When it comes to Sisters’ Camelot, about $3,000 a day over the course of Address:______this argument is simply ludicrous. Few of a month and a half on a union-busting City/State/Province:______the canvassers’ demands are economic; consulting firm called the Labor Relations Zip/Postal Code:______most are structural and related to improv- Institute. They also spent an incredible ing workplace democracy. The only two amount of money on lawyers and legal fees non-negotiable money-related demands fighting the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Send this subscription form to: are professional van maintenance and charges we filed against them. Addition- Industrial Worker Subscriptions, medical bills paid for work-related inju- ally, the pickets we held at stores, the PO Box 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA ries. Professional van maintenance is a phone blasts we did that shut down over- the-phone delivery orders at stores, and Subscribe to the Industrial Worker today! no-brainer. Without a reliably functioning van, canvassers have had shortened and Continued on next page October 2013 • Industrial Worker • Page 9 Special Jimmy John’s Anti-Union Campaigns: Part 2 Continued from previous page self-interest to change. And that usually drivers from the Southside of the negative media attention the company comes about when severe economic, social, Minneapolis. When the company received during the union drive certainly and/or emotional pressure is put on them. decided to clean house and fire a reduced their revenue. In all, simply giv- Exerting these types of pressure was the group of core organizers after a ing us what we were demanding (a $1 per JJWU strategy and it is also the Sisters’ very threatening escalation tactic hour raise for all drivers and supervisors Camelot Canvass Union’s strategy, and the taken by the union surrounding and a $2 per hour raise for all in-shoppers) strategy of all militant unions. a sick day campaign, the bosses would have cost them less money than A cornerstone in the union busting specifically decided to fire only fighting us for so long. The threat that arsenal, used by the bosses against unions six workers, all of whom were unions will bring financial hardship to a of all stripes including the IWW, is to white and male from the same company is typically nothing but an empty paint the union as a separate entity from social scene. The core organiz- threat to scare the workers. the workers themselves with a separate ers who were women or people agenda from the workers. We call this of color were only disciplined, The IWW is an aggressive organiza- “third party-ing” the union. but not fired. As a result, the tion with scary politics that is using At Jimmy John’s, this message was a company was able to frame a you to achieve its political agenda. core part of the bosses’ narrative. In one narrative of the union being for They will harass and trick you. We of the company’s propaganda posters they certain workers and not others. can protect you from them. stated the IWW was using the workers to The phrase “drivers’ union” In all union drives, unions in general advance our political cause and the com- became common in the shop are criticized (even while praised, as men- pany was helping the workers’ cause. among workers who became tioned earlier). Attention will be drawn Sisters’ Camelot and their supporters convinced of the boss’s narra- to various aspects of unions that can be have also painted the IWW as a third party tive and is still used by many framed in an unpopular light. These as- with an agenda separate from the workers. workers who weren’t part of the pects include expensive mandatory union When the strike first started, members of campaign at its height. dues, union bureaucrats making decisions the community publicly attacked the IWW At Sisters’ Camelot, a very on the workers’ behalf, a complicated for “going after” Sisters’ Camelot, saying similar anti-union message has grievance process, and dues money being we were racist and that we are against poor been created. Instead of address- given to politicians without the workers’ people. Notice they didn’t say this about ing the workers’ actual demands, Graphic: iww.org input. the canvassers themselves, just the IWW. the Sisters’ Camelot managing collective who meets the requirements can join. In the IWW, none of these criticisms This implies two things. First, it implies shifted the focus to one worker who they What they conveniently omitted was the apply since our union doesn’t share those the IWW has a sinister motive that is accused of theft, being abusive, and ma- fact that any collective member can block characteristics common to other unions. separate from the canvassers’ struggle to nipulating the rest of the canvassers into any potential applicant from joining for Instead, we Wobblies are criticized in gain control over their work environment. forming the union. The collective and any reason. The collective has also claimed other ways. Most commonly we are red- Second, it implies that the IWW is really their supporters have continually made the that none of the collective members are baited. At Jimmy John’s, we were called the one in the driver’s seat and not the entire struggle about this one worker and paid. In reality, the position of collective radicals, anarchists, communists, social- canvassers. In reality, the canvassers make not about the concerns of all of the work- member is a non-paid volunteer position, ists, anti-capitalists, anti-Americans, ter- all their own decisions. They don’t need to ers. This is done to distract people from but all the current collective members also rorists (yes, seriously!), troublemakers, have their decisions or strategies approved the real issues at stake—the experiences, hold paid positions within the organiza- zealots and so on. We were told that we by any other IWW body. While individual grievances, and demands of the workers. tion which only collective members can were being aggressive toward the company Wobblies offer advice and input, the can- hold. In another statement, the collective and attempting to bully the bosses into vassers themselves call all the shots. The Dirty Truth: Bosses Will Lie. claimed that the canvassers’ union went submission. We were accused of violent This narrative constructed by the Sisters’ A final characteristic of anti-union on strike about an hour after giving their tactics including sabotaging the company’s Camelot collective and their supporters campaigns is a barrage of lies and half- demands. This statement failed to men- equipment and inventory of products. ignores the agency of the canvassers and truths coming from management. At tion that the collective flat-out refused to During our sick day campaign and sub- implies that a union campaign involves a Jimmy John’s, our committee spent an negotiate with the union, which caused the sequent firings, the company’s lawyers group of professionals that parachute in enormous amount of energy refuting the strike to happen. Similarly, at the NLRB tried to argue our campaign for sick days and rescue workers instead of a struggle spin management put on the organizing trial to reinstate the fired canvasser, a col- constituted extortion. involving those directly affected. campaign. The aftermath of the Jimmy lective member testified that the canvass- At Sisters’ Camelot, similar accusa- John’s union recognition election is an ers wanted a few of their demands met the tions have been levied against the can- There is a certain individual that excellent example. After we narrowly lost first day of negotiations. She also claimed vassers. They have been accused of being is causing problems for all of us. our union election, but ULPs against the the canvassers said they were going to go aggressive and being bullies for simply They are hostile, manipulative and company nullified its results, the company on strike at the beginning of negotiations. making demands and going on strike disruptive, and they are destroying put out a statement addressing the election The reality is quite different. The canvass- after the collective refused to negotiate our relationship with you. They and subsequent National Labor Relations ers asked the collective to pick one or two with them. When the canvassers escalated have ulterior motives. We will all Board (NLRB) settlement resulting from demands that they could begin negotia- and turned up the pressure, the collective be better off without them. the ULPs. In the statement, they claimed tions on that day. The canvassers didn’t members (and their friends who were also In many union drives, certain individ- the NLRB only found merit with one-third say they wanted the collective to agree to targeted) became downright hysterical. At uals and/or social groups will be singled of all the ULPs we filed. In reality, they only those demands that day. Furthermore, the Jimmy John’s, when we announced our- out and scapegoated as the main agitators investigated one-third of the ULPs and canvassers stated at the beginning of the selves as the Jimmy John’s Workers Union and instigators to delegitimize the union found merit with all but two of them (out negotiations they were willing to go on (JJWU) and presented our demands, the campaign. This, among other things, takes of more than 20). The NLRB found these strike if the collective refused to negotiate bosses thought we were being aggressive. the focus off the experiences, grievances ULPs to be sufficient to rule the election in good faith. These are but a few examples When we actually became aggressive, our and demands of the workers. null and void. If the company had decided of the many lies and half-truths the collec- bosses demonized us even more. However, At Jimmy John’s, certain organizers to go to court instead of taking a settle- tive has spun to manipulate the truth. In they did begin to give in on some demands, were singled out due to their well-known ment, the NLRB would have investigated doing so, they behaved as any other boss: including less tangible ones like better pasts as IWW organizers in other high pro- the rest of the ULPs. The statement also with dishonesty and manipulation. treatment of workers by management. The file union campaigns. Additionally, there claimed that we admitted in the settle- This strike, which continues to drag lesson to be learned here is that bosses were attempts to marginalize certain social ment that the company committed no on, has revealed many things about the na- don’t respond to simple requests to change groups that were seen as the home base of wrongdoing. In reality, the settlement ture of the Sisters’ Camelot organization, things at work. They aren’t convinced by the core organizers of the campaign. At- contained a clause stating the company its bosses, and those so-called “radicals” others moralizing or arguing with them. tempts were made by the company to paint is not admitting to violating Section 7 of in the community who support the status They are convinced when it’s in their own the union as young, white male delivery the National Labor Relations Act (which quo at Sisters’. Those who have defended protects concerted activity of workers), the collective have done so largely in blind which both parties agreed to. The NLRB defense of the collective model. And in do- Sponsor an Industrial Worker explained to us this was a standard clause ing so, they have caused the organization in all settlements involving first-time of- to nearly be destroyed. Subscription for a Prisoner fenders of Section 7. No matter how much Sisters’ Camelot Sponsor an Industrial Worker The Sisters’ Camelot collective pub- claims to be anti-authoritarian, their ac- subscription for a prisoner! The IWW lished an FAQ and a letter making several tions speak more truth than the identities often has fellow workers & allies in claims that are manipulative and spun to they subscribe to. In doing so, they have prison who write to us requesting a hide the truth. For instance, they claimed proven they are no better than the bosses subscription to the Industrial Worker, that their collective is open, and anyone at Jimmy John’s. the official newspaper of the IWW. This is your chance to show solidarity! For only $18 you can buy one full year’s worth of working-class news from around the world for a fellow worker in prison. Just visit: http://store.iww.org/industrial-worker- sub-prisoner.html to order the subscription TODAY! Page 10 • Industrial Worker • October 2013 Wobbly Arts This (Mobile Rail) Train Is Bound For Glory The Woman’s Ecosystem By Sean Carleton, X364847 By Nicki Meier This song is dedicated to the members of the IWW Mobile Rail Workers Union There’s an ecosystem in my mind. fighting for better working conditions, unionization and justice in Chicago. Love It’s evolving. and solidarity, fellow workers! I’ve recently cleared away all the decrepit cobwebs. Tune: “This Train is Bound for Glory,” traditional. It smells faintly of my grandmother’s attic. A box of old books, some fake pearl jewelry and her old wedding dress, G Withered away and stained from years of exposure and moths. This train is bound for glory, this train. G D It smells of a distant and hazy childhood. This train is bound for glory, this train. Perhaps a lot of which is just my imagination. G But it’s comforting, nonetheless. This train is bound for glory, C This childhood was certainly nothing grand. Now listen up to this union story. But it was mine. G D G You see, even now, women rarely have much that’s their own. Thisl train is bound for glory, this train. But we do have memories. Even if they’re mostly illusions. This train don’t run without workers, this train; This train don’t run without workers, this train; You see, I have very few clear memories from my childhood. This train don’t run without the workers, I mostly craft my own stories from still images, from photographs. Try telling that to the bossy burglars, I imagine these stories I’ve dreamed up are probably much more exciting than my real life. This train don’t run without workers, this train. Of course, that’s not very difficult. You see, poor folks don’t usually get to have lives worth telling, goals, or even dreams. This train is owned by liars, this train; Not even the kind you craft between long shifts on the commute home, This train owned by liars, this train; This train is owned by liars, We’re too exhausted for that. Mobile Rail just wants their profits higher But, you see, I’m always dreaming, This train is owned by liars, this train. Even while I’m awake. My pa’ used to say I was in a daze. This train don’t carry no scabs, this train; Always off in my own little world. This train don’t carry no scabs, this train; This train don’t carry no scabs, That world in my mind-- my own little ecosystem. Don’t want to lose like a bucket full of crabs I’d abandoned all hope of a complex system up there, This train don’t carry no scabs, this train. Until recently. I think it was the passing of my pa’ that really stirred things up. This train is leaving in the morning, this train. Now I’m more determined than ever. This train is leaving in the morning, this train. This train is leaving in the morning I’ve got big plans for this system, Our union’s winning, a new day’s dawning! My own ecosystem, however small. This train is leaving in the morning, this train. Like I said before, it’s mine, and women, especially poor women, We almost never have things of our own. This train is bound for glory, this train. This train is bound for glory, this train. Someday, if you’re lucky, This train is bound for glory, You’ll be around to take a peek into my little ecosystem. So fight with the wobblies and be jolly. By then it won’t be so little anymore. This train is bound for glory, this train. I’m growing big things. Photo: IWW Mobile Rail Workers Union Just you wait and see. Graphic: psychotherapist.org (Untited) By Shane Everbeck ...after a long pause, he told me it was a ticket to hope, the small crumpled sheet with arcane glyphs being the object of my inquiry, an all too precious commodity hope, we graze on warmed flesh, like the body of christ on Sunday, our daily sacrament, escaping into reality-tv from the grim state of reality for my father, consumed body and soul nine to five, to feed the unending appetite of the chief deity in America’s pantheon Mammon, god of ambition, the prince of hope, his sigil stamped on that crumpled paper and the heart of mankind stuffed in a pack of Camel 99’s Graphic: radicalgraphics.org IW Mural In Chicago From Matteo Zito Pages of the the IW were discov- ered on th walls of Pl-zen restaurant Graphic: Tom Keough in Chicago, in a mural done by artist Alejandro Arango.

Photos: Matteo Zito October 2013 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Special A Day In The Life Of An IWW General Headquarters Staffer

Curly fries, a staple food at GHQ (left); FWs visiting headquarters, and busy at work (center); the storefront at 2036 W. Montrose Ave. (right). Photos: Diane Krauthamer

By Matt Muchowski school credit and outside funding. Some resolution on an important or timely issue. in those states. It’s only a matter of time Hi, my name is Matt Muchowski and days we have volunteers who help out with However, we don’t set policy. We simply before we have enough critical mass to I’ve been a staff member at IWW’s General different tasks around the office such as work for the union and its members. The develop a branch in areas like that. When Headquarters (GHQ) here in Chicago for stamping our return address on envelopes, General Executive Board (GEB) consists of someone joins in an area without a branch, the last year and a half. I’ve been a member data entry and packing Literature Depart- elected volunteers of the union, and they we like to talk to them to gauge their inter- of the IWW since 2003 when I got a red ment orders. People who volunteer even set the budget, pass resolutions, and do a est in building a branch. If they are will- card at a Labor Day rally in Pittsburgh. just a few hours at GHQ save us a lot of lot of other work to provide oversight to ing and able, we can connect with other Working here has been hard but fun. I time and help us respond quicker to the GHQ and the various committees through- members past and present in their area. wanted to write a little bit about what it’s time-sensitive duties that we have. out the union such as the International Many times members join and drop out like here to help provide a clearer picture The IWW does more than any other Solidarity Commission, the Organizing after a few months simply because there of what we do so that members and anyone union in the United States, and probably Department, and others. aren’t other IWW members for them to get thinking of running for General Secretary- the world, to keep members informed of Sometimes GHQ receives calls from together and organize with, but if a Wobbly Treasurer (GST) in the future, or anyone how their dues are being used by creating people suggesting ideas for the union’s in the area is willing to do the grunt work who wants to stop by now and volunteer, a new issue of the General Organizational newspaper, the Industrial Worker. While to make something happen, those former will understand what happens at GHQ. Bulletin (GOB) every month. The GOB the Literature Department handles the members are usually more than willing We often talk to potential members details the union’s finances and member finances and part of the administrative to get involved and pay dues again. This who think the IWW is bigger than we are statistics; GHQ is responsible for compil- work for the newspaper, the editor, Diane, is how the Indiana and Alaska branches or smaller than we are. I remember one ing it and distributing it every month. is not based out of GHQ. became so active recently. person in Texas called us the “Navy Seals Currently, GHQ shares a space at While GHQ is engaged in organizing The rate of members who drop out is of the labor movement.” The reality is 2036 W. Montrose Ave. in Chicago with workers into the union, we mainly focus one of our union’s biggest challenges and that for a union with members spread out the Literature Department, whose job is on keeping the administrative side of is something that we hope the union’s across the United States and the world, we to help spread pro-IWW knowledge and the union functional and responsive to new database will help solve. Currently are small, but growing. One of our biggest act as a fundraising arm for the union. Our members. Most of the time when someone the union does most of our reports on tasks at GHQ is working on ways to engage storefront looks like a book store, while the calls us and is interested in organizing paper, re-copying information and mail- members (especially at-large members, or back has desks where we handle the work at their workplace, we try to put them in ing the paper documents from delegate, those who aren’t connected with a branch, of GHQ and a conference room which I touch with the organizing committee of to branch secretary, to GHQ. At GHQ we shop, or local industrial union) and to be jokingly refer to as the “Joe Hill Memorial their nearest branch, or lacking that, the have to enter the information twice, once prepared to handle future growth. Conference Room” because we keep Joe Organizing Department itself. on our accounting software, and then I GHQ’s basic duties involve maintain- Hill’s urn there with several other his- In addition to entering delegate re- enter it on our member database to keep ing and keeping a record of the union’s torical items. Despite holding onto several ports into our database, I am responsible track of members’ dues. The union as a finances and member list. Day-to-day, items of historical note, including several for providing dues stamps to the several whole is duplicating our effort and using that means we process delegate reports, filing cabinets filled with old copies of the hundred at-large members of the union time on data entry that could be better deposit dues money into the union’s bank Industrial Worker and the GOB, most who pay their dues to GHQ either through spent on organizing. GHQ often gets calls account, write checks for the various bills of our historical artifacts are at the IWW the mail or the union’s website. from members or delegates checking the the union has (rent, postage, printing and archive at Wayne State University’s Walter Regarding at-large members, we are status of a report because these reports can travel costs), receive mail and answer the P. Reuther Library in Detroit. While we are always trying to put them in touch with sometimes take a month to be compiled, phone. GST Sam Green handles almost all happy to talk to the occasional students other Wobblies in their area. We notify mailed, and processed at GHQ. It can be of the financial side of things while I do a and labor history buffs that stop by the all new at-large members about nearby especially frustrating when GHQ receives lot of the member list side of things, a job office, it’s not really our primary duty, as branches and give them a phone and email six months of old delegate reports from a that Sam did before he was elected as GST. our office is not a library or history center address of a Wobbly who has agreed to be single branch at once. The member list entails tracking members’ but an active union office. a new member contact. Among some of Hopefully when our new database is dues payments and their contact informa- We are often asked about the scope of the projects we have taken up since GHQ set up delegates and members will be able tion. So when we receive a piece of mail our responsibilities, with questions like: moved to Chicago a few years ago was a to update their information once and GHQ returned because the address was incor- Is GHQ the national office for the IWW? plan to call prospective new members who can spend more time doing follow-up and rect, I am the person who calls and emails The international? GHQ is ultimately the fill out the member application online. We analysis. We’ll be able to focus on helping members to get their correct address. international office for the IWW, how- like to touch base with them, answer any delegates and branches with issues they I also spend some time everyday ever much of what we do in the United questions they have, and try to put them in might have, engaging members who have updating the GHQ Facebook page, com- States—processing dues, recording mem- touch with Wobblies who live near them. fallen behind on dues on what is going on, municating with members from different bers’ status—is handled internationally by Seeing as how we are the only union and better connecting members to each branches about different questions or Regional Organizing Committees (ROCs), that I know of that allows new members other so we can organize and build a strong concerns they have, and mailing supplies who then send us reports. ROCs play an to join through our website, we often have working-class movement. to delegates. In the last two years we have especially important role in helping to people sign up in pretty remote areas. We If you have any questions about GHQ started a summer internship program. We organize internationally, as they are more do not currently have branches in places or the union’s administration, don’t hesi- make the program very educational for familiar with the on-the-ground situation. like Mississippi and Arkansas, yet we tate to shoot us an email at [email protected] students and have helped some receive Sometimes GHQ is asked to pass a have several new members every month or call us at 773-728-0996.

“Strike” agit prop, artist unknown. Graphic: Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University Page 12 • Industrial Worker • October 2013 Mid Yorkshire Health Workers Strike From Libcom.org Bosses at the Mid York- shire Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, which provides health care services to the surrounding areas includ- ing Dewsbury and Wake- The IWW formed the International Solidarity Commission to help the union build field, thought they could the worker-to-worker solidarity that can lead to effective action against the bosses begin an onslaught on the of the world. To contact the ISC, email [email protected]. wages and conditions of staff with an attack on what they perceived to be the Wobbly Solidarity With weakest workers, namely administrative staff. They Picket lines in West Yorkshire. Photo: libcom.org Garment Workers In Bangladesh attempted in part to recoup £21.8 million protect the staff’s salary for a three-year of cuts over 2012-2013 by downgrading period. Upstate NY Wobs Picket Baseball Hall Of Fame administrative workers, which meant that In many ways this puts the battle off By Greg Giorgio Eagle and other retailers to com- some staff were facing wage cuts of £2,800 to a future date, but to millions of work- The Upstate New York Gen- ply with implied and legislated per year. ers who are burdened by attacks from the eral Membership Branch (GMB) standards to create both safer Management poorly miscalculated government, it shows that resolute strike of the IWW returned to the working conditions and basic when they thought that administrative action can get results. National Baseball Hall of Fame rights like collective bargaining. staff would accept these cuts, which would Now, members are bracing themselves and Museum in Cooperstown, When the Upstate New York pave the way for attacks on other workers. for a fight against management’s proposals N.Y., to conduct informational GMB set up their literature table After a successful ballot for industrial ac- for a “new partnership agreement,” which picketing in mid-August to and began to spread information tion, the 2,500 UNISON members took the Royal College of Nursing disgracefully show solidarity with the gar- amongst the baseball fans in Coo- strike action nine times for 24-hour peri- backed and which could result in the UNI- ment workers of Bangladesh. perstown, a Hall of Fame official, ods and waged a staunch press campaign, SON branch secretary and Socialist Party This demonstration was largely who never identified himself, hitting the headlines of local television member Adrian O’Malley being made a reaction to two factory death- attempted to discourage the ac- and building up public support with well- redundant when his post is deleted. Photo: Paul Poulos attended picket lines. The strike action If we are truly to defend workers, we trap tragedies in Bangladesh, at FW Greg Giorgio tion. “Do you have a permit?” he Tazreen and Rana Plaza, which protests. asked. This was a pretext for his prevented management from imposing need more rank-and-file organization of killed some 1,300 wage slaves suggestion to move across the wage cuts and forced them to negotiate workers in different unions, bypassing the in the sweatshop designed “free trade” street once the Wobblies assured him they through the Advisory, Conciliation and bureaucracy of the unions to ferment in- zone where several million earn paltry had no intention to move along. The threat Arbitration Service (ACAS), where man- dependent and collective action to defend sums as the lowest paid garment workers of police enforcement was an empty one. agement was forced into a deal that will all workers and not just sectional interests. in the world. Wobblies spent an hour talking to fans FW Paul Poulos told several onlook- about how Major League Baseball is a Bahrain Guest Workers Strike ers that “these workers were murdered” big profiteer in sweatshop produced team By John Kalwaic also demand more vacation time and a while handing out the picket’s flier, titled logo gear, some fashioned in Bangladesh. Following the mysterious suicide of canteen inside their Sitra accommodation. “The Black Cat Moan.” The Tazreen fire The Upstate New York GMB also has Deu Ram Rai, 22, around 500 Nepali The company claimed that it was only killed about 130 workers when fire ex- been working with other Wobs to coor- temporary guest workers from Nepal, the Nepali workers who went on strike and its were locked and extinguishers were dinate actions and conduct fundraising Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh went on that they had threatened the other work- largely unavailable. Rana Plaza claimed in solidarity with the National Garment indefinite strike for increased wages and ers from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh 1,127 when the building, a flimsy and Workers Federation of Bangladesh in the better living conditions in the Persian Gulf to prevent them from going to work. The illegal construction which had begun to wake of these recent factory deaths. Stay kingdom of Bahrain on Aug. 24. The strik- company also claimed that the strikers are give way days earlier, collapsed on mostly in touch with these efforts, join an upcom- ers, who had only been in Bahrain for 20 being unreasonable and gave them a time young women. These and other factory ing conference call, and donate. Please months, believe that Deu Ram Rai hung frame for stopping the strike or having deaths in Bangladesh in recent years have contact FW Greg Giorgio at 518-861-5627 himself because the company was denying their contracts terminated. The majority of prompted Wobblies and other activists or [email protected]. Donations can his sick days despite him being very ill. the residents of Bahrain are foreign guest to call for renewed efforts to pressure be sent to: Upstate N.Y. IWW, P.O. Box Although their fellow worker’s suicide workers who work as cheap laborers. Un- the Gap, Walmart, Benetton, American 235 Albany, NY 12201-0235. was the catalyst for the strike, the workers like other gulf countries, workers can join have a set of demands that includes sick unions and strike in Bahrain; however, the time and better living conditions. Cur- workers who are allowed to join a union Pittsburgh, Boston Wobs Show Solidarity rently, the workers do not get sick time and strike tend to be native Bahrainis, not By Kenneth Miller even with a doctor’s note and are cramped foreign guest workers. On June 8, members of the the Pitts- together with eight to nine people in a With files fromGulf Daily News. Jona- burgh IWW held a nice action in a little labor camp room designed for four. They than D. Beasley contributed to this piece. upscale fashion district called Shadyside. There were no media and no cops, just a bunch of Wobblies and other anti- Poland: Protests But No Strike sweatshop activists protesting in front constrained by the unions of Benetton. We talked to customers and which follow the restrictive retail workers about sweatshops and we laws on strikes and take all had copies of the “Accord on Factory and Boston Wobs occupy Photo: Boston IWW measures possible to mod- Building Safety in Bangladesh,” which a Gap & protest in solidarity with Ban- erate any potential action was passed on May 13, to discuss. We gladeshi garment workers on June 16. from the workers. Some tried to envision how we would process a On June 28, Fight Back Pittsburgh years ago, there were more grievance at Benetton in Shadyside with organized an action at the Gap in Shady- workers who were ready the National Garment Workers Federa- side. Folks from the United Steelworkers to break union discipline, tion (NGWF) of Bangladesh. (USW) and Service Employees Interna- but now many seem quite Our signs said “Fight Like Hell for tional Union (SEIU) participated. Patrick demoralized. Despite the the Living” and “Let's Talk about Benet- Young, president of the USW’s staff union, large number of demonstra- ton Sweatshops.” Mike Stout brought did a great deal to help organize this event. tors, the protests were much enlarged photos of the collapsed factory After the Gap, they marched past Benetton calmer than the ones which Mass protests in Warsaw on Sept. 14. Photo: libcom.org in Dhaka. over to Banana Republic, another retail/ took place in the country five We had a nice flier to hand out with fashion label owned by the Gap. From Libcom.org to ten years ago. a terrific IWW graphic, “Workers With We are doing as much as we can with At least 100,000 people joined the The unions also did little to spread the the Needle” by Andy P. and text by Ma- the fundraising graphic from FW Tom demonstrations called by the three main protest to other unions and social groups, thieu Dube and Jacob Brent. Robin Clark Keough, which is a terrific IWW silent trade unions in Poland against the leg- instead choosing to deliberately exclude brought an updated flier about the Gap agitator (see below). We are really pleased islation that basically did away with the some, such as the fourth largest union in and Walmart not being signatories to the that Greg Giorgio and Paul Poulos in guaranteed eight-hour work day in Poland Poland. The mobilization from the right safety accord, and distributed some IWW upstate New York are bottom-lining this (see “Poland Eliminates The Eight-Hour wing was quite large, whereas the left and membership information to workers in fundraising effort. The Pittsburgh IWW is Day,” September IW, page 12). Despite alternative mobilizations were very weak, Shadyside before our action. looking to do more actions in the future. the serious attacks against the working highlighting the unfortunate social situa- class, the unions backed off from calling tion in the country at present. Nazis and strikes after the government threatened to fascists took part in the event, going after do away with the system that gives them various comrades. subsidized, paid union jobs. Despite the large protest, it looks like It is obvious that this system is used to the Polish working class is still far from manage a class of labor bureaucrats who taking more resolute action against the have become used to the understanding attacks against it, exposing it to even fur- between them and the bosses: don’t make ther abuse and ensuring its position as a trouble and we will finance your cadres of source of cheap labor for capitalists who unionists. are looking to dump jobs there. We can At the rank-and-file level, there are only hope some things will happen to turn Graphic: Tom Keough people ready to strike. But they are also the situation around in the near future.